Top tips for burglar-proofing your home
Updated | By Roane Swindon
Housebreakings and home robberies make up a significant amount of all household crimes in South Africa and have the potential to change lives because of irreversible invasions of privacy.
Housebreakings or burglaries, which occur when families are not at home, made up nearly 12% of crimes homes experienced in 2015/16, according to Statistics South Africa’s latest report.
But the most feared crime is by far house robberies, which often
have a violent aspect since the family is at home at the time: not only is it
an irreversible invasion of privacy, but intense trauma is experienced over and
above the physical loss of possessions.
The
statistics reveal that these kinds of crimes mostly take place at night, when
the family can be caught unawares and criminals mostly target electrical
equipment, jewellery, money, and cellular phones. What is even scarier is that
an arrest for housebreaking or house robbery is only made for every one out of
five of these crimes.
But what can
you as a homeowner do to minimise the risk of such crimes? These tips are not
guaranteed to prevent a housebreaking or robbery, but can be a deterrent.
- Community
crime prevention organisations are very effective, so be sure to join one in
your area. WhatsApp is a great tool to aid neighbourhood watches.
- Over 70%
of perpetrators worked with inside information. Keep valuables out of sight and
be wary of who you trust.
- Small barking dogs are a good warning system, especially if they’re inside.
- Place
extra security around your garage, as many perpetrators break into this area
first to gain access to your tools to use to break into your home.
- Security
lights and CCTV systems may give early warnings but layer your systems so you
may have several warnings. Your security system must be active when you are
inside the home and not just when you go to bed so you cannot be surprised.
- Keep your
curtains drawn, especially at night when your lights are on, to minimise prying
eyes. Always lock doors and shut windows before going to bed or leaving the
home.
- Sign up with a reputable armed response service and have a panic button placed in a common area or safe room, or even in a bathroom, as residents are sometimes locked here by the burglars.
- Razor wire and electric fences are a good initial defence perimeter, but they are easy to climb over with a car mat, or burglars will find another way to overcome them, such as digging under the fence or removing precast sections of walls.
- Keep your eyes open for suspicious activity or vehicles, as criminals often scope out the house for a while before making their move.
- The most
common break-in techniques are just those: breaking of locks, doors, fences,
and so on. Make sure your locks and doors are strong.
While crime
levels have been declining, it is important that you take your personal safety
and that of your family seriously. Keep your eyes open, be prepared, and be
safe!
ALSO READ: Four clever ways to reuse everyday items
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