A post shared on Kasselman Security Services Facebook-site warned residents to get their security and other arrangements set for the coming holiday season.
Here are a few points to consider:
1. Make sure you have someone checking up on the inside of your home regularly, thousands of rands worth of damage is caused annually due to power outages and appliances failing. Your pet also needs extra company even if someone is feeding him because many pets are injured or bitten by snakes and more regular visits can save their lives.
2. Test your alarm long before you leave, this ensures your security company can properly fix it. Remember many people are departing in the same time-frame you are.
3. Make sure you have securely closed all windows and locked all doors.
4. Never leave vehicles and safe keys visible or poorly hidden in your home. Hide them properly or lock them away.
5. Make sure your security company will patrol and you have someone they can contact in the event of an emergency (this person should also regularly check the inside of your home).
6. Inform your neighbours and security company that you are going away – do not do this over the phone, fill in the necessary forms at your security company. Once you have left, phone them to double-check that it has been loaded on their system.
7. Ensure you have security warning boards on your perimeter and update your details with your security company before leaving. Adding extra contact numbers in case of an incident is a good idea.
8. Remember to have a bedside light plugged in, this makes it easier for whoever is checking in. Many times plugs in the home trip causing freezers to run down while the lights remain on and no one realises the plugs are without power.
9. While you are leaving for an extended time, hide your targeted goods well – hiding and locking away televisions, laptops and jewellery will avoid a quick smash and grab, thus suspects must search for goods, affording them less time.
HOLIDAY CRIME TRENDS:
Break-ins will increase until at least 15 December. Complexes are favoured targets of late as residents either do not have alarm systems or do not use them frequently.
Criminals favour this as it means that no one is responding right after a break-in, giving them ample time to escape.
Between 15 December to January suspects traditionally target homes that are without alarm systems.
This gives them enough time to steal as much goods as possible, they also have very little chance of being spotted as neighbours might also be away, so there is no one to report their presence.
Vehicles are also used more often as there is more time to load more goods.
Using SITREP 24 we could see that over November and December 2017, Fridays and Saturdays were favoured for residential break-ins and break-ins were spread over a wide area.
Plan, prepare and stay safe!
