Top tips for burglar-proofing your home

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