The South African Police Services (SAPS) have issued a list of safety tips to be used over the holiday season as follows:
- Advise your security company if you are going away and ensure that you supply all the necessary information regarding nearby key holders, in case of an emergency
- Inform your neighbours of your holiday plans so that they can keep an eye on your property
- Stop all newspaper deliveries and ask a friend or neighbour to collect your post. A bulging post box is a dead giveaway that you are not at home
- If hiring a house sitter, ensure that you teach them how to use your alarm correctly
- Double check that you have locked and secured all windows and doors before leaving home
- Ensure that all your outside locks are a minimum of four lever locks or double cylinder security locks
- Never leave a key in the inside of an outer door which has glass panels or glass near the door lock
- Having security gates fitted on outer doors is a highly effective security measure that gives you an extra line of defence
- Sliding doors can be secured simply by placing a piece of timber cut to size in the sliding rail. Make sure that sliding doors cannot be lifted vertically
- Full fencing and sturdy gates are a good deterrent
- Have good exterior lighting, preferably on a timer
- Do not leave tools like ladders or spades outside, as they can be used to break into your house
- Clear signage indicating that you have security also helps to discourage burglars
