Publications
Partners
Crime statistics climb to record highs over the festive season, but you tend to be relaxed during the holidays, which means you may be less observant of criminal behaviour.
Following these tips could help ensure you don’t have a break-in and won’t have to claim from your insurance company:
1. Secure your home: If you can’t get a house-sitter, make sure you activate your alarm system and notify your security company or neighbourhood watch that you will be away.
Attie Blaauw, head of personal lines underwriting at Santam, says: “The security company might be able to arrange extra security to ensure your house is safe.
"Supply the company with a contact number of an authorised person who has access to your house, as well as your alarm details.”
Change any padlock combination codes you might have been keeping for a while and change your alarm system code. Keep expensive electronics and appliances out of sight.
2. Make criminals believe someone is home: One deterrent for thieves is the possibility that there may be someone at home.
Install lights with timers so they go on when it gets dark and off again in the morning.
You can also buy timer plugs and connect your TV or music system so it comes on a few times during the day – giving the impression that someone is home.
Blaauw says: “To prevent your house from becoming a target, a friend should remove mail from your mailbox and even take your bin out on trash days.
"The delivery of newspapers should also be stopped. By taking all these actions, the important illusion is created that someone is at home.”
3. Tell your neighbours about your trip: If you trust your neighbours, tell them your departure and return dates.
Ask them to contact you if anything seems out of order, and also ask them to randomly visit your home a few times.
This will make it harder for criminals to predict when the home is empty.
4. Not everyone needs to know your holiday plans: While it’s tempting, don’t brag to the world (employees, strangers, contractors or on social-media platforms) that you’ll be going away.
If you have no choice, be vague about when you’re going and say that someone will be keeping an eye on your home.
5. Reduce any temptations: After Christmas, don’t put empty boxes from gifts and appliances out with your rubbish bins – this will only advertise the expensive contents in your home to criminals.
Rather take those boxes to a dump site, where they will ideally be recycled.
6. Take steps to limit any damage: Damage to your home may not always come from an intruder.
Take steps to reduce any chance that any of your appliances will wreck your home while you’re away.
“Disconnect the power to your geyser and some other non-essential electrical appliances to prevent possible damage due to power surges.
"This will also save you money on your electricity bill,” says Blaauw.
7. Turn off your automated garage door: “This is an effective way to keep thieves from opening it with a universal remote,” adds Blaauw.
8. Tag your most precious items: Glynn Mashonga, the owner of GlobeScope Security Solutions, recommends you put tracking devices on your assets.
“With asset tracking security, you can see where your goods are in real time and from any location.
"Even if you’re relaxing on the beach, you can access your assets’ locations from smart devices to ensure they are where they should be,” she says.
9. Enhance your security: Thieves are always coming up with new and ingenious ways to break into properties.
Greeff Properties CEO Mike Greeff recommends installing visible deterrents such as CCTV cameras that are fitted near entrances or under the eaves.
“CCTV cameras prove to be a deterrent to criminals, and they add to the value of your property,” he says.
Greeff warns that thieves can also access the home through the roof and says placing sensors in the ceiling will detect intruders.
Store all jewellery and other precious items in a hidden safe.
10. Make sure you have the right insurance: During this time of the year, you’re likely to have more contents in your home as you collect presents under the tree.
But are you insured for them in the event of a break-in?
Find out if your insurer provides extra cover.
Santam, for example, offers all its policyholders 10% extra household contents insurance cover – at no additional cost – over the holiday season.
This year, the cover runs from December 15 to January 31.
Having a variety of home security measures in place won’t prevent a break-in, but they can deter burglars or result in a burglar taking more time to gain entry into your home.
Verena Hulme of Fidelity ADT Security in Cape Town says: “Such delaying tactics could serve as a source of frustration for a potential burglar, dissuading them from breaking in.”
She adds: “It is important to test security systems well in advance of the holiday period so that there is enough time to call out a technician to fix any problems, if needed.
"Ideally, alarm systems should be tested at least four times a year.”
