Tell a friend where you are going and share your location with a family member or friend when using an e-hailing taxi service

·       Download the ‘alert app’ on your phone – speak to your service provider about this service.

·       Speak to your service provider about defense training courses they offer

·       Ensure your gate has a non-lifting mechanism Ensure you use strong and good quality locks that cannot be easily shorn through

·       Flimsy burglar bars provide no defense – ensure you install strong and good quality bars

·       Change the locks on your front door when moving into a new house. Consider adding a deadbolt, smart lock or video doorbell.

·       Trim trees and bushes close to the house

·       Bring bins once emptied as they can be used to scale walls and fences

·       Be vigilant when drawing cash out from the ATM – beware of strangers offering assistance.

Homeowners, please take responsibility for the safety of your family and possessions by regularly evaluating how secure your property is. Don’t neglect things that are not working as they should because this is just the gap a criminal needs.

Important things to note when evaluating how to secure your property and home are:

Perimeter. Low walls or no walls are asking for trouble. A properly secured perimeter of walling or palisade enhanced with electric fencing and a good gate is your first line of defense.

Locks. All locks – on gates, doors, garages, and sheds – should be of strong, good quality.

Burglar bars and security gates. These need to be strong and of good quality too. Anything less is simply fooling yourself as criminals know all the tricks when it comes to security gates and burglar bars that are flimsy.

Doors. Don’t make it easy for a burglar to walk in through the front door. Inspect all exterior doors to make sure the door frames are strong, the hinges are protected and if you have a mail slot make sure nobody can reach in through this and unlock the door. If you move into a new house, change the locks. Reinforce your doors with things like deadbolts, smart locks, or a video doorbell.

Windows. These are common access points for criminals. Make sure the latches are of good quality and install sensors and burglar bars.

Lights. Criminals thrive under the cover of darkness so make sure you put them in the spotlight if they come onto your property. Ample outdoor lighting is important. Think motion-sensor lights, solar lights, and smart lighting. If you have lights at your entrance gate ensure these are always working too.

Hiding places. Trees and shrubs are good curb appeal but they also provide criminals with a good place to hide. Trim trees and bushes close to the house to give you more visibility of the property.

Put things away. Don’t tempt an opportunistic criminal by leaving garden furniture, ladders, bicycles, and the like outside. These should always be securely stored away and outside gates and sheds should be locked.

Add cameras. Not only are security cameras a deterrent, but they also enable you to quickly determine what is happening on your property in real-time if you are not there. You can also easily send footage to your security provider while they are responding to an incident at your home. Cameras should have motion detection, night vision, WiFi capability, and be weatherproof.

Get automated. Home automation turns a regular house into a smart house. You can remotely or on a schedule control lights, smoke alarms, security cameras and other safety devices, as well as get real-time alerts.