Criminal activity predicted to spike during load shedding
“With the [ongoing] load shedding please prepare accordingly by locking up securely at sunset, and make sure cellphones are fully charged,” she cautioned.
With load shedding taking its toll lately and leaving the citizens in the dark, crime spikes have been predicted by several local authorities.
Muldersdrift Fire Protection Association (FPA) member, Shenan Cochrane, suggested residents start preparing themselves against perpetrators during the duration of the blackouts.
“With the [ongoing] load shedding, please prepare accordingly by locking up securely at sunset, and make sure cellphones are fully charged,” she cautioned.
She advised that cable theft might be on the rise during load shedding. “Criminals could take advantage of blackouts, particularly [targeting] cables,” she explained, adding that security companies will have their hands full with false alarms as batteries go flat.
Gary Jordaan, BCI Security’s media liaison, weighed in on the situation by giving a practical example. He said their response teams have already had to respond to four or five houses due to alarm failures or battery units running flat.
He then encouraged residents to contact their security providers to test their alarms, batteries and electric fence during this period.
Honeydew Police spokesperson, Captain Balan Muthan, also weighed in, advising residents to ensure their backup alarm batteries are functioning and that remote gates and windows are closed, even under normal circumstances.
Shenan also encouraged residents to exercise caution and call their service providers for any disturbance.
On a lighter note, she also reminded residents to prepare food beforehand and be careful of open flames from candles and lamps.
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