The Roodepoort Police have urged community members to always be crime conscious and aware of crime opportunities. Crime is on the increase, as illustrated by the escalating number of dog poisonings that have been reported recently.
Here are some of the tips on personal and home safety awareness provided by the Roodepoort Police:
*Never walk around alone and don’t talk to strangers. Be on the lookout for strange cars or people.
*Walk in well-lit, busy streets and in a group, if possible.
*Make sure your home is secure, and become a member of an armed response service. Be sure that you know all the emergency numbers or have them displayed in an accessible area.
*Always let someone know where you are going and how long you will be gone. But think twice before advertising your impending absence on social media. Criminals also have access to Facebook and Twitter.
*Trust your instincts.
*Avoid going onto a congested street where you cannot even walk properly. This is where you will find criminals picking pockets.
* Avoid displaying valuables where criminals can see them.
*Ensure that all doors are locked at all times, and windows are closed when you are not at home.
*Large dogs serve as a deterrent. At least one dog should be trained to sleep inside the house.
*If you leave your residence, inform family/ neighbours of your intended destination, time you expect to return and the route you will be driving.
*Ensure that tools such as axes, spades, picks, ladders, etc that can be used in an attack, are locked away when you are not using them.
* Vary your daily routine.
* Get into the habit of not immediately falling asleep after switching off the lights.
* You should not be visible in the bedroom from the outside when you are asleep.
* Always keep a torch nearby at night and when you use it, ensure that you do not give away your position.
* If you are unsure about the security status of your home after returning from work/ a visit, e.g. your dogs do not come to the gate, do not enter your home.
* Contact your neighbour to assist you in securing your home.
* Identify relatively safe places of refuge, for example, the bathroom, toilet or storeroom. The fewer windows and doors these rooms have, the better.
* Involve employees as they are part of the family/ team.
*Report suspicious behaviour and information to the Police.
*Clear out bushes and anything else that could provide a hiding place near your gates.
*Take photographs of all employees. It could be to your advantage to identify them, if required.
*Remunerate your employees when useful information is provided that contributes to the prevention of crime.
* Do not employ casual workers without a reference.
* Keep copies of all your employees’ identity documents (IDs).
* Ensure that you have a good relationship with your neighbours so that you will be in a good position to support and help each other.
* Do not allow strangers on your premises or in your house.
* Implement proper key control measures.
* Never hide any keys in traditional places, such as pot plants or under doormats.
* Keys in the keyhole on the inside of the front door should be turned to avoid easy removal.
* Never allow strangers to handle keys or look at key numbers.
* Change the locks when keys are lost.
* Insert barring devices in door locks.
* Remove keys from doors when leaving.
* There should be two systems for alternative back-up: telephone and cellphone.
* Have a telephone installed where it is easily accessible.
* Teach your children not to tell anyone that adult supervision is not available via the phone or personally.
* A high fence around the house with lockable gates is much safer. The primary aim of a fence is to make access difficult.
* Make sure your gates are locked at all times and that the keys cannot be reached or left lying around.
* Security gates with sturdy locks in front of each door and burglar-proofing on all windows, are recommended.
* An alarm system, preferably connected to an armed response company, can act as an effective deterrent.
* Security lights on the outside of the house improve the physical protection of a house.
