In 2020 the number of South African households that experienced break-ins or invasions increased to 2,3 million, making it the most common crime in the country.
Here are some tips on how to stay safe in the event of a home invasion:
Layers of security
Make sure your home isn’t easily accessible to criminals by layering security measures. This could be helpful in buying you time to get to safety or help because they often will be brazen enough to continue trying to work their way in.
Safe Room
Choose a room in your home (maybe a bathroom) that is lockable as an emergency safe room for your family during a possible home invasion. Equip this room with a plastic bag (to protect against steam damage) containing a spare panic remote and a charged cellphone with airtime. Regularly test these devices. It isn’t wise to choose the main bedroom as this is usually a
criminal’s first target.
Stay there
Stay in the safe room until the police arrive, no matter how long it takes. Even if you are pretty sure the home invasion is finished and the intruders have left, DO NOT LEAVE THE SAFE ROOM. Remain there until the police have cleared the house and tell you to come out.
Face to face encounters
Should a face to face encounter occur, avoid eye contact, speak slowly and avoid swift movements that could make an intruder panic and potentially cause harm.
Racing against the clock
Because most criminals are aware that security companies and patrol cars are usually nearby, they often race against the clock to grab your valuables and rush out. Do not fight for your belongings and do not attempt to slow them down because this may aggravate them and cause violence.ile
While we continue to hope for a crime-free society, stay safe South Africa!
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