Safety First as Festive Season Approaches
With the festive season fast approaching, businesses experience their busiest times due to an influx of needs by customers.
With the festive season fast approaching, businesses experience their busiest times due to an influx of customers.
Unfortunately, the boom in business creates a spike in crime, as criminals are most likely to prey on unsuspecting victims.
Ryno Schutte, from the South African Intruder Detection Services Association, stressed the importance of putting your safety first.
“Be safe and vigilant over the next few months and report any suspicious behavior to your local police and security service provider.
Working together as a community can be very fruitful over the Festive Season, so let’s all do our part. Our biggest mistake as drivers is that we have become complacent in our thinking, trying to remain positive by saying things like, ‘It won’t happen to me’, or being macho, making it known that ‘I will show them’.
Schutte gave us some safety tips for home, driving, and hi-jacking situations –
Before leaving your location:
1. Please get off your phone while approaching your vehicle. Yes, we all say we can multi-task, but can we really?
2. Take a stroll around your vehicle to confirm that there is no one lurking around or in your vehicle before getting into it.
3. If a child will be driving with you, seat him or her behind the driver of the vehicle. This will ensure, in the event of an incident, that the driver can remove and shield the child by turning his or her back towards the hijackers/ suspects.
4. Ensure that both number plates are on the vehicle and no papers are stuck to the rear or front windows of your vehicle. This is a trend used by suspects to lure you into stopping while your vehicle is running to either retrieve the number plate or remove the papers.
5. Place all valuable items out of sight, either under the seat or in the boot of your vehicle. Smash and grabs are also on the increase.
6. Ensure your windows and doors are closed and locked before leaving.
7. Plan your route before departure.
While driving:
1. Remain off your phone. Not only do you risk being involved in an accident, you are also placing your fellow drivers at risk. Not to mention that using a cellphone while driving is illegal. Put your phone on ‘silent’ and out of reach while driving.
2. Be vigilant at all times and report any suspicious behavior to the police and your local security service provider.
3. If your windscreen or tyre is damaged while driving, drive to a well-lit area before stopping to inspect the damage.
4. Do not stop for people indicating that they are in need of help in deserted or high risk areas. Contact law enforcement, the police or a security company to assist.
5. Take a different route daily when leaving or returning home. Criminals pounce on the fact that we are following the same routine and routes.
6. There is a misconception that only certain makes and models of vehicles are being stolen or hijacked. If there is a need for a certain make or model vehicle in the vehicle crime market, any vehicle will become a target.
7. Lower the volume of your music, eliminate distractions and be extra vigilant 1 km from your destination, ensuring that you are not being followed.
8. Park parallel to your home opening or the gate, prior to pulling into the driveway. Parking in your driveway while opening your gate might get you boxed in.
In the unfortunate event of a hijacking:
1. Do not resist the attacker or suspects.
2. Keep your hands visible at all times as the suspects are as nervous as you are.
3. Be submissive and listen to the suspects’ instructions.
4. Do not resist once you have exited the vehicle.
5. Place your child in the seat behind the driver so that the child can be removed easily. Indicate to the suspect that you have a child in the back seat and remove the child while shielding him/her as much as possible.
6. Create time and space between yourself and the threat as quickly as possible.
7. Remain calm and try to memorise any useful information about the hijackers without staring at them:
– Take note of the language the suspects speak
– Count the number of voices
– Listen to the information the suspects share among themselves and possibly via cellphone
– Estimate the height of the suspects by comparing it to your own height
– Identify any clothing, markings and shoes of the suspects. Some suspects change their clothes but not their shoes.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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