Avoiding festive season house break-ins

SA – Specialised security services expect crime to increase exponentially because of the dire financial situation of many people following the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. It is important that people are alert and take precautions to avoid crime and other atrocities.

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS RECOMMENDED FOR THE HOME

• If you have been fortunate to receive a Christmas bonus, be careful of who is aware of your good fortune. Try not to keep cash on hand and never leave it unattended in the office or home.
• Only let the neighbourhood security watch, a few trusted neighbours and friends know when you are going on holiday and avoid broadcasting your plans on social media.
• Secure all doors and windows and set the alarm when the house is vacant or when the family goes to sleep.
• Do not leave Christmas presents in view from the outside of your home.
• If you are going away for Christmas, leave an inside light on ask a trusted neighbour to check on your property.
• Test all the zones of your alarm system to ensure that they are working correctly.
• Make sure that CCTV cameras are working and are positioned in such a way that they give a clear view of what is happening both inside and outside the property.
• Ensure that motion detectors are in optimum working order.
• Notify the alarm monitoring company of your departure and return dates.
• Offer to let neighbours use your driveway if they are expecting guests over the festive period. The activity will make the home appear occupied.
• Consider leaving a set of keys with someone in case of an incident.
• Discard the boxes of any expensive gifts bought away from your home as these may make you a target for criminals.
• Keep an eye out for suspicious-looking people roaming the neighbourhood and report them to the local community watch.
• Do not hide the access keys to the house, under the doormat or outside the house.
• Keep ladders and other tools in a safe place that cannot be accessed by intruders.
• Ensure the safety of your animals by leaving pets with family or friends or take them on holiday with you. If the pets stay behind, ensure that there is enough food and water for them and have someone check on them daily.

Do not allow the holiday fever to make you less vigilant as criminals are not taking time off.

Mike Bolhuis, specialist investigators into serious violent and serious economic crimes, press release extracts, 17 November 2020