By Marius Kemp
According to the latest crime statistics from the South African Police Service (SAPS) for October to December 2023, as many as 453 homeswere burgledevery day in South Africa an increase of almost7%since the previous period, demonstrating that this type of crime is once again on the rise.
More concerning,residential robberies with aggravated circumstances are also up by 5.2% on the previous quarter while, 71 homesacross the country are robbed every day, with Gauteng (35%) and KwaZulu-Natal (23,2%) accounting for the majority.
The difference between a burglary and robbery: while both involve the theft of goods and bring a sense of violation from having someone trespass in your home, a robbery which entails someone being present in the home is a truly terrifying ordeal, as not only does the victim need to deal with thefinancialimplications that stem from theloss of or damage to their property but also the trauma arising from the very real fear that your life was in danger.
While neither a burglary nor robbery is something that anyone wants to experience, the good news is that there are steps you can take to help mitigate the risk of your home being invaded, as well as thefinancialloss that is typically associated with theft.
Conduct a risk assessment
The first step is to conduct a thorough risk assessment of your home, which is something that should be done regularly.
Check the indoor and outdoor areas, points of entry, and perimeter, while taking note of any risk areas. This should include checking the latches on your doors and windows, ensuring your alarm has sufficient battery power, and that your electric fence is in working order.
Level up your home security
If you find your security to be lacking in any area, now is the time to invest in an upgrade. Ensure that you have a solid, high fence or wall around your property, ideally with electric fencing, and that any nooks or crannies in your garden, where thieves could potentially hide, are well-lit.
And with load shedding a constant concern for South Africans, all electrics should ideally be backed up by solar or battery.
Burglar bars, security shutters, and gates are alsohelpful as a deterrent, asare dogs and neighbourhood watch groups. No house will ever be 100% safe, but the key is to add layers of barriers so that your house isnt an easy target.
To the thief, you want to make the task of entering your home look like both a risk and a hassle.
Keep a low profile
Homes are often targeted when the owner or tenant is away or when there are fewer people at home. Its important to keep a low profile when you and your family or your spouse go away as syndicates often watch homes for some time before striking.
A final sweep of your home should be done before you leave shutters should be closed, doors and windows locked, alarm activated, and exterior lights left on.
Keep the fact that youll be away as quiet as possible, limiting it to your close circle of friends and family. It is also a good idea to refrain from posting your holiday pictures on social media until you are home. However, it is worth notifying your neighbourhood watch group, should you belong to one, so they can do a few additional drives past your home.
Ensure that you are covered in the event of theft
Despite these preventative measures, theft can always still occur, which is why it is so important to ensure that you have comprehensive home contents insurance.
With this in mind, you will need to do a thorough inventory of your home possessions and ensure that you are adequately insured and your sum insured reflects the correct new replacement value of all the goods of your home in the event of a claim. Also make sure to check the terms and conditions of your policy carefully, so that you know exactly what is covered and the terms of your cover (for example, your policy might state that your alarm needsto have been on when a break-in occurs to claim.)
When in doubt, check with your broker or insurer, who is there to help you safeguard your property.
