If your home isn’t already protected against crime, then it should be. There may have been a very slight decrease in house burglary in South Africa this year, but there has been an increase in the number of times the same households are being robbed again (Repeat Victimisation Index or RVI).
This was highlighted in the Victims of Crime Survey (VOCS) 2016/2017 presented by the Statistician General,
Dr Pali Lehohla, in September 2017.
It was one of two very interesting reports on crime in South Africa presented recently, the other being the South Africa Police Service crime statistics for 2016/2017. This second report showed that the category House Robbery has increased but House Burglary has decreased slightly, although this has to be balanced against the fact that the same households are being hit more than once, more often (RVI).
There is always confusion about the difference between these two categories of crime. The main distinction is that home robbery is where force is used on the people in the home (a contact crime), making it a more violent crime than house breaking/burglary (where there is no contact between the victim and the perpetrator).
In summary, the more violent form of theft has increased while the less violent form has decreased a little but the same homes are being hit repeatedly.
What we can do to protect ourselves
The VOCS survey showed that 51.3% of households took physical protection measures for their homes during the survey period. That leaves the question of what the rest of us are doing to protect our households. Are we waiting for an incident before we do anything to keep ourselves safe?
This is short sighted when there are lots of different ways of improving our security at home. Here are some tips on how to do this:
1. Install good quality security barriers on doors and windows
Physical security barriers on doors and windows are the best way of helping to keep perpetrators out of your home because they are an obstacle that robbers have to find a way around. The key here is to install barriers that are strong and of good quality so that they put up enough resistance to an attack by robbers. If you’re home when this happens, you need as much time as possible to call for help and cheap, weak security barriers won’t give you much.
2. If you can’t secure your entire home, create a safe zone
A safe zone is an area in your home, usually a bedroom, which is fully secured by physical safety barriers on all doors and windows, plus a passage or stairway security gate. You can lock yourselves up safely at night. One window must have burglar proofing that opens so that you can use it as an escape route if necessary.
3. Make good use of your security measures
Keep security gates and window burglar proofing closed and locked at all times so that you don’t get caught by surprise. This is especially important when you’re home, because this is usually when we turn off burglar alarms and are then vulnerable to a surprise attack.
4. Check your security systems regularly
Your security systems should be in working order at all times. This means checking your battery back-up for automated gates, security shutters, panic buttons and alarm systems. Also check security gates and burglar bars for signs of wear and tear on a regular basis and get these cleaned up as soon as they start to rust or corrode, or replaced if they have already deteriorated.
Your local Trellidor franchise is on hand to give you security advice and help improve your home safety measure.
Find your nearest Trellidor outlet and ask them to visit you at home.
Remember to order your security barriers before the end of November if you want them installed by the time you go on holiday.
