The recent robbery of a prominent Randfontein businessman and his family in their home got me thinking about how vulnerable we are as residents.
No matter how many security precautions we take, the criminals seem to be one step ahead.
It’s sad that we have to fortify our homes to the point that they resemble prisons just to try and keep ourselves safe.
Police say we should never follow the same routine and be vigilant at all times. The problem is, you have to leave for work at a certain time each morning. There is no point in leaving earlier of later. The criminals simply watch and learn.
The infamous house robbery as it’s known in copspeak must be one of the most difficult crimes to fight.
I agree that we should take every precaution possible to try and ensure that we do not become victims, but there is only so much one can do.
How do we stop those criminals who are determined to get into your home – preferably with you and your family inside – and take you for everything you have?
Get a gun? Probably not the best idea since violence is not in our nature. To them it comes as naturally as breathing and you’ll likely end up getting shot with your own gun.
Tell them to take whatever they want and leave and hope they don’t hurt anyone? I’ve worked very hard for what few possessions I have and I get very uncomfortable with the notion of just letting some criminal take whatever he wants from me.
But with my wife and children’s safety used as leverage, what can I do?
It’s a sad reality but I don’t think there’s very much we can do, except get used to it.
The house robbery is going to be with us for a long time still and all we can do is try to be as safe as possible and pray that we escape the gaze of the criminals.
