The Fish Hoek Community Policing Forum (CPF) is urging residents to be aware of criminal opportunists in the area as house burglaries are on the rise.
Jonathan Mills, Fish Hoek CPF chair, says burglaries are taking place during the day and early mornings.
“The house burglaries usually occur in the middle of the day or around 02:00 and 03:00 in the morning.”
He added that in many cases the burglary occurred because of an unlocked door or open window.
“People leave in the middle of the day and forget a window open and there are opportunists.
“It’s time to get back into good habits. Crime is on the up and people are getting desperate and the pressure is going up,” said Mills.
He added that during the day some homeowners may be taking a nap forgetting an open window or door.
“Most cases, doors and windows are left unlocked when someone may forget to lock up when going to bed or think perhaps another family member had locked up.
“If we are tighter on security, we won’t have burglaries. Ensure that windows and doors are locked.
“If you are active however then you are not much of a risk but if you take a nap and leave the door open and it’s quiet there is a risk of burglary.”
Meanwhile Charnel Hattingh, head of marketing and Communications at Fidelity ADT, said it was important for home owners to check their security systems.
“It ultimately boils down to testing your system today so that you can have peace of mind that it is working properly when you need it tomorrow.
“A proper system once-over is also very useful now before the December holidays arrive; we often get panicked phone calls from customers who only realise their system is faulty when they are about to walk out the front door and go on holiday.”
She added that homeowners should start by identifying any overgrown trees in their gardens.
“Identify any trees that might be overgrown and in need of a trim, or any plants that have grown to block your outdoor movement sensors.
“Pay attention to anything that could damage your security system when a sudden gust of wind blows a tree over and knocks down your electric fence.
“It’s best to start at the perimeter of your property and work your way in. Think like a criminal and evaluate whether your fencing or wall, garden, windows, doors, shed, or garage have weaknesses a criminal can exploit or which can be exacerbated by heavy rain or winds.”
Security systems and maintenance should also include load shedding, she added.
“Batteries also have a finite lifespan which is affected by constant power surges and interruptions.
“By following these tips, we hope you will have peace of mind that your security system is as prepared for summer as you are.”
