Whatshot

2026
2025
November
2024
June
April
2023
March
2022
2021
2020
March
February
2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2014
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2013
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2012
December
November
October
September
August
July

Tips To Prevent Opportunistic Crime This Festive Season

Tips To Prevent Opportunistic Crime This Festive Season

Date: 2014-12-19

Nico Potgieter, Head of Private Investigations at Enforce Security Services urges people to remain vigilant and observant, and not "invite" criminals into their homes by ignoring things which may seem insignificant.

  1. Do not leave windows or doors open, even in the Durban heat. Rather rely on fans and air-conditioners. Opportunistic criminals will choose your home over your neighbours' if their doors and windows are closed.
  2. Do not flash expensive equipment, such as cameras or cell phones, in public areas where criminals could be lurking, especially at times where it is getting dark.
  3. If you buy new home entertainment systems and TVs, rather dump the boxes yourself than leave them outside your house or in your yard where opportunistic criminals can see them. Leaving them out for all to see advertises that you have items worth stealing in your home.
  4. Do not leave valuable items such as bicycles in the yard. Rather bring them inside when your children are finished playing. Even if a criminal is not interested in stealing a bicycle, if it is an easy target he will take it. And then once he is in your yard any other items worth stealing become new targets. Open doors and windows then invite him from your yard into your home.
  5. When arriving and leaving home, be observant and vigilant at all times. Hijackers often take advantage of your lack of attention when driving into or out of your gates. Always look up and down the street when leaving home, and when arriving, drive around the block if there are unknown people nearby.