The beginning of 2022 has seen an alarming rise in the number of armed house robberies and housebreak–ins in the Northern suburbs. According to Josh Nel, Bryanston Branch Manager for Fidelity ADT, Fidelity ADT alone recorded 29 incidents in the North of Johannesburg for the month of January with Bryanston, Sunninghill and Paulshof recording the highest numbers of house robberies and armed robberies.
A marked increase in January compared to December.
In December, there were 10 house robberies and 3 armed robberies with most robberies taking place on a Tuesday or Thursday during the day. In January, there were 18 reported house robberies and 11armed robberies, with a change in MO to taking place on Monday, Friday or Saturday during the day.
He says what is concerning is that most of these incidents have involved armed suspects targeting employees at residences.
“We can see that in a number of instances the Gardner will be working outside, they are either forced to open the gate if it is locked or if it not lockedthey forcibly gain access.”
“Fortunately, these criminals appear to be opportunistic criminals, there for the easy pickings but there is always the worry of personal injury,” he says.
“In our experience we have found that security measures like electric fences, detection beams and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) are still key deterrents to crime, as are pets. For homeowners small dogs that sleep inside the house are seen as a deterrent. How secure your neighbourhood is, is also a meaningful factor.
If robbers are scouting carefully, they will view regular patrol and a strong neighbourhood watch system as a good reason to move on. Also consider creating a safe word for your staff to alert you to any problems and ensure that they are au fait with your home security system.,” he says.
“It is equally important that domestic staff always keep security gates or doors locked – they may not hear an intruder over the noise of the vacuum or know that someone has entered the house while they are in the backyard. The alarm system must always be armed when they leave the house; even if it is only for a few minutes.”
“The bottom line is you always need to remain vigilant. Act as if you are being watched and take all necessary precautions. Your security starts with having the right security measures around your home. he concludes.
