Domestics’ mistakes corrected by law enforcers
Most of the house robbery incidents in the area can be attributed to errors made by domestic workers
In a bid to reduce the number of house robberies and break-ins, the Panorama Residents Association hosted a domestic workers’ safety workshop on Friday, 12 April.
A number of domestic workers employed in and around Weltevreden Park attended the outdoor meeting, which featured presentations from law enforcement agencies such as the police and various security companies in the area.
Most of the house robbery incidents in the area can be attributed to errors made by domestic workers, so the law enforcement agencies decided to assist them to correct their mistakes.
One of the security officers at the gathering, Prince Sithole, from Beagle Watch, emphasised the importance of avoiding careless mistakes such as opening gates and doors to strangers. “Everyone is a suspect until proven otherwise. Don’t open gates or doors for people who claim to be officials from various entities such as Eskom, City Power or Uber,” he said. “Don’t let them in until you have verified them with your employer or security company,” he urged.
BCI Security’s Rudi Holtzhausen gave a talk about using panic buttons. “Keep the panic button with you at all times, and make sure you know how it functions. The button has to be pressed for longer than two seconds in order to send the message,” he explained.
He also warned the domestics not to leave the empty boxes from valuable items outside, as this gives criminals an indication of what’s inside the property.
Rudi also appealed to them to pay attention to detail and get a description of people who do get onto the property. Note down what they look like, what they’re wearing, and the colour and number plates of their vehicles.
Duan van Vuuren, EC Security’s reaction supervisor, highlighted the importance of checking your surroundings. “Always look around the premises, note things out that are out of the ordinary and report them – this can prevent a lot of crime,” he said.
Honeydew Sector 2 manager, Nicholas Makhura, emphasised the importance of knowing all the emergency numbers, including Honeydew Police Station (011 801 8400), Crime Stop (10111), and the EMSes (011 375 5911, 10177 or 112).
