Beagle Watch advises residents to be alert at all times for hijacking at gates or driveways, derailing of gates to get into the property, stealing gate motors, being followed home to be robbed at your gate and car theft.
“Being robbed at one’s gate is the most dangerous and difficult crime to sort out, and that is when the home owner is most vulnerable,” Dave Casey, MD of Beagle Watch said. In order to prevent this happening to you, be vigilant and look to see if the road is clear, no one is hiding behind bushes and there are no suspicious-looking people near your gate or on your street before you pull into your driveway. Also be on the look-out for anyone following you. Being extra aware once you have arrived home is imperative.
To make this easier on you, carry a panic button on your key ring and remove any bushes or potential hiding places near your gate and driveway. Another way to increase your safety is to install alarm gates. They work using a silent alarm that notifies patrol cars and a control room if the gates are left open. “Alarmed gates are proving very effective in keeping people out of properties. They provide a quick alert, prevent robbers from getting to your home, prevent gate-motor theft and possible car theft when armed,” said Casey. A change in routine, a barking dog, and outside beams and CCTV cameras also make your property unattractive to potential robbers.
Park your car in a safe and secure area whenever possible, refrain from parking your car for too long in a parking lot and ensure that you have parked in a well-lit area. Don’t leave your valuables or anything of importance in your car either. Before walking off, double check that your doors are locked. Car alarms and vehicle tracking systems are also very necessary.
Residents are warned not to be heroic but to do as the perpetrator(s) says. Do what you are told and nothing more than that. Be cautious, and do not look perpetrators in the eyes.
Casey said, “All these crimes can be reduced or stopped if residents are more alert and prepared”.
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