Resident doubts security fence after theft
Electric fences should have a loop in between the live wires which triggers the alarm when they touch, said a security expert.
A Weltevreden Park resident has been left reeling in shock and doubting the usefulness of the security features on his property.
This follows the alleged theft of two bikes after his electric fence was tampered with and the security wall vandalised by the unknown perpetrators.
The devastated homeowner, Bradley Oosthuizen, alerted his friends on social media a night after the incident on 25 May. “Just a heads up, don’t think your property is safe with electric fencing and locked gate etc.”
“… They (perpetrators) come straight through the wall. [They] stole two MX bikes,” he said, adding that they left a blue banner hanging.
According to Norman Mphilo, the reaction manager at EC Security, the banner or sheet was probably used to prevent them from being electrocuted. “Normally suspects use a blanket in between the wall and the fence to prevent being electrocuted,” he said.
He elaborated that electric fences should have a loop in between the live wires which triggers the alarm when they touch.
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According to Nemtek, a security products company, the wall-mounted earth loops are installed onto the wall to protect the bottom wires on a wall top fence. They are used to enhance the level of security offered by an electric fence by detecting attempted separation of fence wires and leave just enough room for natural movement of the live wire. When the earth wire touches the loop, a connection is made and the alarm will sound.
“When there are no loops in between, anyone can lift the live wires with a stick,” Mphilo advised.
It is unclear whether a case has been opened by Oosthuizen, who has been approached for further comment.
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