South Africans are the masters of home security.
With the high rate of crime in South Africa, you are more likely to find a suburban home protected by electric fences, barbed wire, alarm systems and armed response than not.
With the holiday season fast approaching, the need for households to be vigilant about their security is increasing, as not only does the pre-holiday and holiday season mark a crime peak but unoccupied houses offer a tempting prospect for would-be burglars.
Dial Direct Insurance’s Bradley du Chenne says that criminals don’t take time off over the holidays and that the festive season is usually characterised by an increase in house breakings and other crimes.
Leaving the home alone for the holidays is a risk that many South Africans take, but with careful planning it is possible to minimise this.
The risk involves not only criminal activity: any number of natural or not-so-natural disasters could strike while homeowners are sunning themselves on the beach and, more importantly, are not on hand to act quickly.
‘Your home is much more vulnerable when there is nobody to man the fort and keep an eye on things.
There’s the ever-present threat of a housebreaking and there are other things that could go wrong, such as a burst geyser.
That’s why it is so important for holidaymakers to get their ducks in a row before they leave their homes on standby for the holidays,†says Du Chenne.
He points out that it is crucial to think like a criminal when conducting a thorough inspection of the house.
Homeowners should check burglar bars, security gates, alarm systems and electric fencing to ensure there are no weak points where security could be breached.
If there are locks, broken windows or detached burglar bars that need repairing, now is the time to do it.
Even if the house has been protected with the best systems on the market, these have the potential to fail and should be tested to ensure that they are in top-notch condition.
This includes the alarm system itself, as wel as the parts of the system that monitor the security of the house such as beams and motion detectors.
By doing this before you go away, it is possible to ensure that the company monitoring your alarm system and responding to potential breakins will not have to come out for false alarms.
At the same time, homeowners should inform the security company that that they are testing the system so that it does not waste time sending out guards to respond to the alarm.
If there are problems with the system, make sure they are repaired before you leave in order to minimise the risk of having a potential insurance claim invalidated by a faulty alarm system.
‘It is also beneficial to ensure that back-up batteries on electric fencing and alarm systems are functioning properly. You wouldn’t want to arrive home after a trip away to find there’s been a power failure and you can’t access your property,†says Du Chenne.
Next, homeowners should make sure they have adequate insurance cover to protect themselves against losses and damage to property and possessions should anything go wrong while they are away.
Even having done everything within your power and means to secure your home, you could still be burgled.
And who can afford to replace furniture, clothing and appliances all at once?
‘So, before you go away on holiday, make sure that you have updated your insurance policy to include any new valuables you may have acquired in the months since your last policy update. This includes items such as jewellery, appliances, clothing, electronic equipment, CDs and DVDs.
‘Remember that home contents insurance doesn’t only cover you against theft, but can also cover you against other perils such as a fire or flood,†says Du Chenne.
He also reminds homeowners that they should strive to save electricity over the festive season.
‘Switch off all power outlets and unplug all appliances around your home and in your garden, including water features, garden lights, inside lights, ovens, air conditioners, televisions and your geyser.
There is really no point having them on if you aren’t home to use them. Switching off your geyser will also help mitigate the risk of it bursting while you are away.
‘If you are going away for more than two weeks, it is also a good idea to empty your fridge and freezer, switch them off and allow them to defrost.
‘Set your pool pump to operate only as often as is necessary to keep your pool clean and, if you have a pool cover, use it while you aren’t home,†he says.
Securing your home
- First check that you are properly covered on your insurance policy for all your household items.
- The amount for which you have insured the contents of your home should be equivalent to the amount it would cost to replace all the items with new items, at today’s prices.
- Lock sentimental and irreplaceable items away.
- Make sure you have an upto- date inventory of all your household possessions.
- Having burglar bars fixed to all opening windows and security gates fitted to all external doors is essential. Most insurance companies will recommend that you have an alarm system installed that is linked to a reliable armedresponse company.
- Even with these measures in place, the lack of a human presence in your home is often obvious from outside. The best way to ensure peace of mind is to employ a housesitter. A house that’s occupied is almost always safer than a house that’s empty. See if you can get a trusted friend or relative to stay at your home while you are away. Curtains being opened and closed, lights being switched on and off and the presence of a car in the driveway are all signs that people are coming and going.
- Cancel your newspaper delivery or have someone collect it daily and also empty your postbox.
- Security while you’re away is often about appearances. If you have a garden or potted plants in the driveway that are visible from the street, have someone come around regularly to maintain them. Wilted plants and an overgrown lawn are a signal that your house is unoccupied.
- If nobody will be housesitting, it’s worth your while to put your lights on a timer, and in several rooms. If you can, try to create a sequence for the lights that follows your day-to-day routine. Set the timer to turn on the living room lights at sunset.