Top 10 DIY Security Tips to Keep a Home Safe and Secure.

• The presence of an alarm system deters 60% of burglars, making them more likely to choose a softer target.
• In fact, 90% of convicted burglars say they would avoid targeting a home with an alarm system installed.
• Burglars prefer to break into homes during the daytime hours when you and your family are away at work or school.
• They also look for signs that your home is unoccupied, such as overflowing trash cans, recycling bins, newspapers, and an overgrown lawn.
• Surprisingly, over 30% of burglars enter a home through an unlocked door, window, or other opening without using force.
• Burglars also prefer to use big fences and overgrown trees or bushes as cover when entering a property.
• Before breaking in, burglars may knock on your front door. If someone answers, they may come up with a bogus story to avoid suspicion.
• Most burglars fear being caught, and will avoid targeting homes where they hear a radio or TV playing.
• Burglars typically go straight to the master bedroom first, and rarely search a kid's bedroom. However, they will be deterred by loud dogs or nosy neighbors.

In 2017 a 78-year-old Dalpark resident contacted the Herald after he was robbed by scam artists pretending to be potential Home buyers.

Many South Africans have told similar stories of how burglars act as government workers or authorities.

According to the Governance, Public Safety, and Justice Survey (GPSJS) 2019/20 report recently released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), housebreaking continues to be the most common crime experienced by households across the country. The report revealed that the number of households affected by housebreaking rose from 2.1 million in 2015/16 to 2.3 million in 2019/20. The situation is quite alarming, as an estimated 1.2 million cases of housebreaking were reported in 2019/20 alone, affecting a total of 891,000 households - a staggering 5.3% of all households in South Africa. The report also noted that while incidents of housebreaking surged in June and December in 2018/19, there was a change in pattern the following year, with a peak in June, September, and December.

Protecting your home from burglary is important, and while it may be hard to safeguard your home from professional thieves, it's relatively easy to prevent amateurs from breaking in. To achieve this, here are some simple but effective security precautions you can employ:

1. Take a walk around your home and plan to "burglarize" yourself. Doing so will help you identify any weaknesses in your security system that might have gone unnoticed.
   
   
2. Always lock up your home, even if you're going out for a short time. A lot of burglars gain access through unlocked doors and windows.
   
   
3. When you move into a new home, change all the locks and tumblers. This will prevent unauthorized access to your property.
   
   
4. To ensure that your alarm system is effective, conceal all wiring. Professional burglars often look for places where they can disconnect the security system.
   
   
5. Make your home appear occupied at all times. Use timers to switch lights and radios on and off when you're away from home.
   
   
6. If your alarm system is faulty and goes off frequently, get it fixed immediately, and inform your neighbors that it's been repaired. Most people tend to ignore an alarm that goes off periodically.
   
   
7. Spring-latch locks are easy for burglars who are "loiding" experts to pick. Loiding involves sliding a plastic credit card against the latch tongue to unlock the door.
   
   
8. Deadbolts are more secure and can only be vulnerable when there's enough space between the door and its frame for intruders to use power tools or a hacksaw.
   
   
9. If you lose your keys, change the locks immediately to prevent unauthorized access to your home.

 How do you scare burglars away in South Africa?

Beyond an alarm system with a good siren and quick responding security company , there are other ways to deter criminals. Electric fences have become a popular perimeter security solution for many homeowners in South Africa due to their effectiveness in deterring intruders and providing an added layer of security. In most cases you can add your electric fence to your alarm system as a zone , to further secure your premises.

What to do After a house break - in? 

Experiencing a home burglary can be a traumatic and unsettling experience. Here are some steps you can take after a home burglary:

1. Call the police: The first thing you should do is call the police and report the burglary. They will come to your home, investigate the crime scene, and create a report that you can use for insurance purposes.

2. Secure your home: If your home was damaged during the burglary, make sure to secure any broken windows or doors to prevent further damage or another break-in. You may need to hire a locksmith to change the locks on your doors.

3. Take inventory: Make a list of all the items that were stolen or damaged during the burglary. Take pictures or video of any damage or missing items. This will be useful when you file an insurance claim.

4. Contact your insurance company: Call your insurance company as soon as possible to report the burglary and file a claim. They will guide you through the claims process and may send an adjuster to your home to assess the damage and the value of the stolen items.

5. Take care of yourself: A burglary can be a traumatic experience, and you may need to seek support from friends, family, or a therapist. Don't hesitate to reach out for help.

6. Increase your home security: Consider installing a security system, motion sensor lights, or cameras to deter future break-ins. You may also want to consider joining a neighborhood watch group or taking other measures to increase your home security.

Remember to be patient throughout the process of recovering from a home burglary. It may take time to replace stolen items or repair damage to your home, but with time and support, you can move forward from this experience.

Learn About Ajax Wireless Security Systems
https://www.alarmwizards.co.za/