How to protect your home and neighbourhood from criminals

According to SAPS’ National Crime Statistics, approximately 40, 610 residential burglaries were reported for the January to March 2023 period. Criminals are watching your neighborhood, and may target almost any home that seems unprotected. Here are six ways to protect your home and neighbourhood from criminals.

1. BE ALERT

Be alert, and pay attention when something around your home changes. Criminals often watch their targeted property well before any burglaries are attempted or planned.

Signs of waiting criminals can include:

• Disappearing or ransacked trash.
• Broken windows or moving objects.
• Strangers hanging around the neighborhood.
• Sudden issues with outside lights.

Before an attempted robbery, criminals might try getting to know your property and routine.

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2. GET A PANIC BUTTON

Panic buttons can be an important safeguard in emergency situations.

Emergency insurance connect you to security companies and police stations with a button. If there’s an alert put through, you will receive help from local security, police, or ambulance services.

Criminals don’t like the sight of law enforcement and security companies.

When you’re in an emergency, every second counts for your safety.

3. INSTALL AT LEAST ONE SECURITY CAMERA

Studies show that public security cameras and brighter lighting can deter criminal attempts.

Criminals might think twice at the thought of being recorded in the act: video footage becomes later evidence.

Small, portable security cameras can allow you to keep an eye on your home. Some types of cameras can be accessed through your smartphone, so that you can tell if you’ve had visitors when you weren’t at home.

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4. REMAIN AWARE

Awareness of your neighborhood can help to protect you against potential home robberies.

Would you know how to contact your neighbour if someone jumped over your wall to theirs? Do you have the contact details for your local SAPS station (and station commander)? Would you know if the fruit-seller suddenly changed their face overnight?

Criminals take advantage of situations where they have the upper-hand. If you know your neighborhood well, you are more likely to notice subtle changes before crimes could take place.

5. WATCH YOUR ROUTINE

Potential criminals could watch their victims’ routine long before the crime itself.

Where there’s an offender, a victim, and the absence of a witness there could be an increased risk of crime. Change your routine, and you make it more difficult for potential home robbers to know when to strike.

Pay special attention when entering or leaving your home. Ensure that you have good lighting, know where your keys are at all times, and don’t leave doors unlocked. Carry at least one defensive item, like pepper spray.

If you notice suspicious activity, drive past your home and proceed to your nearest police station (or request a security company’s escort).

Watch your routine, because criminals may be watching already.

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6. KNOW YOUR LOCAL SAPS STATION

Maintain a relationship with your local SAPS station.

Stations send out patrol vehicles, and act on any reports of crime or suspicious activity. A local SAPS station also works with security companies and neighbourhood watch groups to improve safety.

Seen something?

Say something.

Contacts for every police station in South Africa can be found on the SAPS website.

1. Report any suspicious activity.
2. Request heightened patrols in your area.
3. File a report (or open a criminal case) when crimes have occurred. 
4. Follow up any service delivery issues with the relevant Station Commander

This article was originally published by Alex Coyne.