December / January 2022
LET’S WORK TOGETHER TO STOP CRIME
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betafence.com Page 3
Inside
this issue
Tel: 087 943 2418 Cell: 078 685 3894
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Loadshedding tips
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Safe!
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Talking about firearms with Brad Nathanson
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What is Cyber Stalking?
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The FINAL Word!
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Tel: 031 701 4305 142 Crompton Street, Pinetown Page 5
How to keep safe during LOAD SHEDDING in SA
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f you have ever had so much work to do and deadlines to meet and then a load shed happened, you can agree that a business can be affected greatly. Even losing customers on top of that. But what can we do in these types of situations? Here we are going to look at some of the things we can do to ensure our business is up and running and we are never under the threat of losing customers during a load shed.
BACK-UP OPTIONS DURING A LOAD SHED 1. BACK-UP GENERATORS Diesel generator sets are a popular type of commercial backup power that turns on when the power goes out. This is a good choice for those power outages that occur in areas that can’t afford to be without electricity, such as hospitals, conference centers, and major retail outlets. However, before relying on a diesel backup generator, the device should be checked with the building’s total load to ensure that it can handle the maximum electricity load. If the gensets are unable to handle the entire load of the house, an “emergency” situation should be checked, in which only the vital systems are backed up. When the power goes out, an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) will be needed to start the diesel generators. Using backup diesel generators, depending on the load size of the house, is likely to be very costly under Eskom’s current load shedding trajectory. Diesel is significantly more costly per kWh than standard Eskom tariffs, and even more so when compared to solar PV costs per kWh. Before setting up generators there is a need to communicate with your technical or electrical team to discuss maintenance issues, diesel (as you’ll need to know the liters that will be needed for it to be running), you also need to look into how many hours your genset will have to run; those things are some of the things you’ll need to look into. 2. SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEM Many commercial buildings in South Africa – hospitals, shopping centers, distribution centers, and so on – have grid-connected solar PV systems that provide power from the sun during the day. These relatively simple systems are connected to the grid, but they do Page 6
not meet the entire energy demand of the offtaker, but rather supplement it. Unfortunately, grid-connected solar PV systems do not always avoid load shedding in a house. Since solar produce Direct Current (DC) energy, it must be converted to Alternating Current (AC) before it can be used in buildings. A solar inverter is needed for a solar system to generate usable electricity. Solar inverters, on the other hand, are built to shut down during a power outage. Grid-tied inverters cannot run in off-grid conditions because they are built to meet international safety requirements that require this feature. As a result, when Eskom goes down, so do most solar systems. However, this does not mean there is no as it does not rule out the possibility of load shedding in large buildings with solar PV systems. It is possible to create one’s own “microgrid” by simulating a fake grid-tied scenario to “trick” the solar inverters into staying on. A generator or battery, as well as specialized control equipment, are needed. Two important steps must be taken to retrofit a grid-tied solar system to work during load shedding. To begin, the system must be disconnected from the grid to prevent any power exportation that could jeopardize the safety of maintenance staff. Second, a voltage forming source is needed to provide the solar inverter with a reference voltage and frequency. As a result, the following is needed to prevent a grid-tied solar PV system from going out during a power outage: Hardware that can disconnect the building’s or facility’s key supply from the grid, essentially isolating it from the grid. A diesel generator or battery bank can provide backup power for the entire facility while also providing the solar inverters with the appropriate voltage and frequency reference. To handle the change-over, the dispatching of generators/batteries, and the synchronization of the solar inverters, these two points necessitate diligent engineering and a proper control system. It must also oversee grid resynchronization once the grid is operational again. This is something that can be done and shouldn’t need any human input. Furthermore, the device will need to be properly sized to avoid tripping under different loading scenarios.
Owing to the machine needing to turn itself on and switch to off-grid mode after an unforeseen grid failure, there will be a brief downtime with these two mechanisms in place. However, once turned on, the solarpowered electricity produced can be spread across the structure. It is possible to either disconnect from the grid before an anticipated outage or provide an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) capable of supplying constant, uninterrupted power during an outage to completely prevent an outage. 3. OFF-GRID POWER SUPPLY Another option, which is somewhat much more expensive, the choice is to take a commercial building completely off the grid. When solar PV systems are combined with energy storage, excess solar power generated during the day can be stored and distributed later when required. Solar PV is now one of the most affordable sources of electricity, and its distributed nature makes it ideal for use at the point of use. The cost of batteries and the advanced engineering of microgrid systems, on the other hand, must be weighed against the building’s requirements. Perhaps a commercial or retail building owner is willing to pay a higher price for reliable, clean electricity. (Microgrids are also useful for providing power in weak-grid situations, such as in Cedar Mill Mall, where the grid’s 250 kVA is supplemented with an additional 250 kVA.) If your commercial or industrial building’s diesel generators are used about 30% of the time, the business case for a solar PV and battery integrated microgrid would likely look viable. Power outages last about 7 hours a day in a typical stage 4 load shedding situation. Given that the energy load in the building is constant during the day and those diesel generators are used to provide power when the grid goes down, this will account for about 30% of overall electricity usage, making it a worthwhile investigation. There are options for commercial and industrial buildings in South Africa to avoid the harm that load shedding can do, whether it’s installing a backup generator, installing a solar PV system with a backup generator or battery, or going completely off-grid.
LOAD SHEDDING
L
tips
oad shedding is not pleasant but it is something we have to live with. And having to work from home during load shedding can cause a lot of inconveniences. Small businesses that use electricity may also become victims and may even start losing customers. But what can we do in these types of situations?
Here we are going to look at some of the things we can do to ensure that we still enjoy our homes even without electricity and also to make sure that all our electrical equipment is safe. 1. UNPLUG ALL CABLES IN THE HOUSE It is very important to unplug all electrical appliances from the sockets in the house at the moment, there is a power outage. These could be your TV, computer power cables, and any other equipment that may have been in use at the time the power outage occurred. The other option you can consider is having surge protectors; this plays a huge role in ensuring safety to your electrical appliances because when the electricity is restored, your electrical circuits can be subjected to power surges, which may cause harm to your appliances. Surge protectors, which plug directly into your wall socket, are relatively inexpensive and will reduce the risk of damaging expensive equipment due to power surges. 2. ALTERNATIVE POWER This option may be somewhat costly, but if you can afford it, invest in a generator or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to provide you with backup power when you
need it most. This helps if you are a business operating at home With a generator, though, keep in mind that you’ll be paying for the initial costs as well as power, so just go ahead and buy one if you’re sure you’ll be able to deal with the fluctuating fuel price in the long run. 3. SOLAR POWERED ENERGY LIGHTS During load shedding at night, you’ll need to use lights. There are some options here You can use rechargeable lights indoors. These switch on automatically when the power goes off. Eurolux produce some fine indoor rechargeable lights. These will give sufficient lighting for your house and make criminals aware that there is someone at home. For the outdoors you can replace your outdoor lights with energy saving solar-powered globes. These will, also switch on when the power goes off lighting up the exterior your home There is also the option of converting your home to solar power and keeping the light on that way. Just a warning though solar power is initially expensive but over time it will pay for itself over and over again. FOOD PREPARATION/HEATING One of the things that keep us going throughout the whole day is food and for those who have little children they will need to eat; how can you handle them since load shedding slots shift daily. It might be wise to invest in a gas stove. Gas is a very efficient way of cooking and a basic cooker is relatively inexpensive and the gas its self lasts a few months. The refills are always available from gas suppliers and hardware stores and in an afterhours emergency, you can get gas from most petrol stations.
FOLLOW CHANGES & UPDATES ON THE LOAD SHEDDING SCHEDULE Checking your load shedding updates on reliable sources is very important. Current load shedding follows reasonably consistent plans, so you can plan. Keep your schedule close at hand, whether written or on your mobile device, whether you’re supplied by the City of Cape Town or Eskom. And, since the status of national and local load shedding can change at any time, stay informed by connecting to the appropriate information sources. Having said that, since load shedding schedules are available to the public, criminals can see blackouts as an opportunity to commit crimes. When entering or leaving the house, extra caution is necessary. If you happen to be working from home or have assignments, work out a plan that will help you go about your work and assignment to avoid missing deadlines. 4. HAVE BACK-UP BATTERIES FOR ALARM SYSTEMS Make sure your alarm systems are in working order and that you have backup batteries in case of a power outage. Power packs and batteries wear out faster as a result of load shedding, resulting in decreased functionality. During load sheds, alarm systems can also generate false alarms and panic signals, so units should be tested regularly. Be as prepared as you can to have a backup torch or headlamp on hand. This is for those times you are working late or maybe you were traveling and you have arrived home late. Having a torch in the car is something that should not be overlooked. Page 7
SAFE SECURITY, WHAT WORKS? You have just moved into your new home with your family. Next on your list of the many things to take care of, is securing your home and making sure your family is safe. The insurance company has given you their requirements; insisting on,burglar guards for your windows and security gates for your doors, a safe for the storage of jewelry, an armed response alarm system and a lock-up garage or automated gate to keep your vehicles safe. However, you feel as if you should do more. According to the latest available statistics, of the 14,5 million households in South Africa 2.1 million have been affected by some form of robbery. This translates to 14.8% of South African households.
YOU ARE FEELING OVERWHELMED by the many security options available to you as well as questioning whether or not you are going to be able to afford to implement everything. Purchasing external door and window beams, motion sensors, security cameras, a CCTV system and alarm system, electric or barbed wire fences, burglar guards and slam lock gates, can run into to tens of thousands of Rands. While all this is tempting, it is just not financially viable for the majority of South African home owners.
SO WHAT WORKS? What really are the most effective, essentials? Information gathered from numerous prisoners, currently serving time for burglary and home invasion, revealed which security Page 8
options were the most and least affective. The main security factors that work, according to the inmates, have to do with movement, noise, visibility, ease of access and escape routes. When a burglar or a team of home invaders, target a home, they look for external and internal elements of the property that will hide them from prying eyes. Therefore, building high walls, hedges, and putting up thick curtains, immediately makes you high risk. If they can intrude and steal your valuables without neighbors or passersby seeing them, then it is easy for them to be successful. A concealed home also means that you must be hiding something valuable. Razor wire fencing with barbed wire or an electric fence is more of a deterrent, as your home is visible to others. Having a visible armed response company sign on your property is vital, so that the burglars know your home is being surveyed, and that they have limited time before armed response arrives, should the alarm sound. The inmates also confirmed that if a property has motion sensor cameras, they will not enter. This is because when these cameras detect movement, they alert you via your preferred device, giving the intruder no time at all to get in and out of the property undetected.
Noise scares intruders away, therefore having an audible alarm system activated by motion sensor lights and or beams, internally and externally are a wise investment. If, for any reason at all, you are unable to activate your alarm system and you are not at home, leaving a radio or a television on, tricks the intruder into thinking that someone is at home, causing them to rule your property out as a target.
IS IT SAFE TO HAVE A SAFE? Inmates admit that they will do anything to get you or your family members to open your safe, even if it means harming you. This proves that safes are actually dangerous. Hollow doors or doors with decorative glass can be kicked down or smashed open and are easy access points. Therefore investing in plate glass, slam lock security gates and solid wooden doors, are the safest way to go. Once a burglar realises that he cannot enter your home easily, he will give up and move on.
WHAT EXTRA STEPS CAN YOU TAKE TO ENSURE YOURS AND YOUR FAMILY’S SAFETY?
Once your neighbors know you well enough, they will pick up on your routines and behaviors. This is helpful; as they will notice strange activity in your home during the times they know you are not at home. It would be prudent to learn from the men and women who have been caught and convicted for robbing South African homes. Focus on the key essentials. Audible alarm with early warning systems such as external beams, motion sensor lights and cameras linked to your armed response company. Clear visibility with live electric or barbed wire fencing that limit ease of access are good additions.
Be aware of your surroundings. Vacant land, a Finally, invest in slam lock security gates, road, railway line or a forest, adjacent to your strong doors and burglar guards. home, are easy escape routes and access points. Get to know your neighbors. Join the Neighborhood Watch and local Whatsapp groups as well as the Community Policing Forums.
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FIREARMS
WHAT NOT TO DO AS A GUN OWNER: 1. Don’t take a gun to a place where it will likely not be needed as this is an additional responsibility. 2. Don’t produce your weapon unless you intend to discharge it and NEVER threaten the police.
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n this edition I am going to discuss firearms; this in the wake of the shooting by Police of a gun-wielding madman in Muldersdrift recently.
There are so many clever ways of describing guns and ownership thereto. “Better to have a gun and not need it than need a gun and not have it”, “You can’t rape a 38 special”, the list goes on and on but the thing about owning a gun that is so often never discussed is the most important component to gun ownership, and this is RESPONSIBILITY. For those who have watched the Len Cloete versus the SAPS video clip I will point out some of the problems I have with Cloete and the way that he behaved as a gun owner on the day that he was shot. For those who have not seen the video and are interested in knowing what NOT to do, I urge you to watch. Firstly, the burning question is why Cloete thought it necessary to bring a gun to a room in which he intended to have sex. Each to their own, I guess. Cloete put his gun into a bedside drawer. One might argue that this is not a safe but as the law prescribes, the weapon was in his “safe custody”
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until Cloete decided to brandish it in front of the police in an attempt to intimidate them. Drawing a weapon without discharging it is in my opinion juvenile and dangerous as a weapon that is used to scare or intimidate another very often becomes a weapon that may be used against its owner. Threatening the SAPS with your gun is by far one of the very least intelligent things one might do with one’s firearm. Cocking a weapon is the ultimate sign of aggression and shows your intention to discharge even if you don’t know what you are doing as is clear if one watches Cloete cock his pistol. Cloete didn’t just load a round in the chamber of his pistol but also erroneously ejected a live round at the same time declaring “And I know how to use this”. Cloete’s biggest and almost fatal mistake was then to disposes a police officer of her weapon and then to ask for the police to shoot him which they did. Cloete now lies in hospital in critical condition with a bullet-wound to his head. Kind care BE Safe and BE Healthy Brad
3. Know how to operate your weapon in a way that doesn’t make you look foolish. This may be achieved by practicing regularly. 4. NEVER disposes a member of the SAPS of their service weapon unless you have a death wish. If you produce your weapon, be prepared and ready to use it. It is not a toy. It should NOT be used to intimidate. It is there to save your life or the life of another.
YOUR weapon is YOUR responsibility.
Brad Nathanson Investigations www.bradnathanson.co.za Follow us on Facebook for all our latest crime news and updates: https://www.facebook.com/ BradNathansonPI/
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GUARD DOGS EDITORIAL BY ANDRAY AKRUGER
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or centuries our beloved cannine companions have served us by protecting our homes and our families from intruders and unwanted visitors. Dogs of every breed have a natural instinct to protect their territory; however, there are some breeds in particular that make effective Guard Dogs. In this article we will be discussing the top 5 Guard Dog Breeds as well as their benefits and training process. If you are looking for a guard dog that is easy to train and loyal to a fault, then you should invest in a German Shepherd. Known for their police work, German Shepherds are quick learners as they are incredibly intelligent and very protective over their humans as well as their property as they are fiercely territorial. With a natural instinct and skill for guarding, the Italian Mastiff, Cane Corso, has a long history of protecting. Its muscular stature and a deep bark make them intimidating and will ward off any unwanted visitors. To train a Cane Corso effectively, one should focus on honing in on its natural protective instincts and obedience as this dog requires a strong human companion to take charge when needed. The third is famously known for its courage and strength and loyalty to its human family. This gentle giant - who won’t be so gentle when needed - is the Bullmastiff. That’s right, although the Bullmastiff is large and intimidating they make for one of the best family pets and guard dogs. When you bring a guard dog into your family, it is important that your children and other people’s children are safe too. Luckily, the Bullmastiff is highly tolerant and gentle with little ones, if properly trained and socialized. One needs to be assertive and experienced in dog handling, as Bullmastiffs will show dominance if not properly taught who the Alpha is. With a dog as intimidating as this because of its large size and
scary bark, you won’t have to worry about losing sleep over being unsafe and unprotected. The Belgian Malinois is an athletic breed. They are a favourite amongst the police and military due to their agility, their trainability and their search and rescue skills. This breed’s natural instinct is to serve. However, in order for your Belgian Malinois to be an effective protector, you would definitely need to invest in specialised training, and ensure
Cane Corso
BROUGHT TO YOU BY BOB MARTIN Page 12
that they are properly socialised, so that they are quickly adaptable. New people that you allow in your home as well as new environments unnerve them, so they need to learn to feel at ease when you are bringing visitors to the home.
guard dog, as you want to be able to control your fearless protector.
Bullmastiff
Our final breed is the cuddliest of them all, The Akita, but intruders be aware! These canines are one of the best guard dogs. Akitas have been protecting Japanese Royalty for generations. This in itself shows their loyalty to their humans as well as the possessions their humans own. Akistas are highly suspicious of strangers; therefore, you can be confident that your property and family members are well protected when leaving your home. Akitas are natural protectors so little to no guard dog training is needed, other than obedience training which is always recommended for any
Belgian Malinois
Before choosing your new companion, it is very important that you do the necessary homework with regards to breeding lines and health conditions. Invest in buying your furry friend from a reputable breeder who can guarantee a pedigree and stable personality. Your guard dog needs to mix well with your personality too, which is, by far, the most rewarding part of it all.
Akita
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PROTECTION DOGS BY GRANT SMITH
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any people believe that the best protection dogs are extremely mean, exceptionally forceful dogs. While an exceptionally mean and extremely forceful dog would be positively terrifying to a thief, it would likewise be risky to the family - in this manner invalidating the whole purpose of having a protection dog - to keep the home and the family protected.
or any dog that is not yours if the owner is not present.
Nonetheless, that does not imply that huge dogs are an impractical notion. Truth be told, assuming you need a protection dog, you most certainly need a correctly trained one. The key is for the dog to be well-trained and to generally be a friendly and personable family dog.
If you have a properly trained protection dog, it will be more difficult for a burglar to get past your dog. However, properly trained protection dogs require a lot of work and cost a lot of money. Preparing your dog to be ready for protection work is anything but a quick course. It requires years of ongoing training. Practice, practice and more practice is what makes the best dog. Training is quality time with your dog. Who doesn’t want to boast when your dog masters food refusal, doesn’t eat food off the floor, or then tracks down somebody hidden away in a house? Indeed, even small steps of getting your dog to bark at a suspect are a colossal accomplishment.
Essentially, you want a dog that will alert you to trouble, and if necessary, to attack on command. If you are going to welcome a big (and thus potentially dangerous) dog into your home you need to learn how to stay safe around that dog. It is important to note that dogs that have been abused, and even dogs that have not been properly trained, can be unpredictable and more difficult to manage and/or handle. For this reason, you should never approach a strange dog,
You need to keep yourself, your companions, your family, and even outsiders, protected when around your dog. In order to do this you need to ensure that your dog is properly obedience-trained and that every other person that comes into contact with your dog is consistently kind to it.
Working on your dog’s character to make it a TOP DOG is an amazing experience!!
I have trained many dogs over the years, from little Pugs, to Border Collies, Poodles, Rottweilers and German Shepherds, as personal protection dogs. So if when you say you want a protection dog you are meaning a well-trained, fun, family dog that will deter burglars, and you really are a dog person, then you should get a dog. But if you do so, make sure that you invest your time, and build your family dog into the protective companion you desire.
Contact GRANT +27 81 270 4672 www.thesmartdog.co.za
BROUGHT TO YOU BY BOB MARTIN Page 14
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IS A CRIME SO WHAT IS CYBER STALKING?
C
yber stalking it is a stalking or harassment that takes place via online channels such as social media, forums or emails. It is a typically planned and sustained over a period of time. Cases of cyber stalking can often begin as seemingly harmless interactions sometimes, especially at the beginning; a few strange or perhaps naughty massages may even amuse you. However, when it becomes systematic it becomes annoying and even frightening e.g. if you receive a few negative comments from the post you posted on your social media it may upset or annoy you. It doesn’t have to involve direct communication, and some victims may not even realize that they are being stalked online. Perpetrators can monitor victims through various methods and use that information to perform criminal acts. Most of the time cyber stalking involves someone who attempt to get attention of a former partner or someone that the stalker thinks should be theirs. Maybe a person at work, or even a classmate who has attracted the attention of the stalker. HOW TO PREVENT CYBER STALKING Stats reveal that most cases of cyber stalking that are recorded shows that one out of every 12 women (8,2 million) and one out of every 45 men (2 million) in South
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Africa have been stalked at some time in their lives. Cyber stalking can be prevented by applying certain measures such as blocking your stalker from contacting you on your social media accounts, keep a low online profile, stop sharing sensitive information, reset pass word, limit personal information online, check your privacy settings, and maintain a good digital hygiene, avoid disclosing sensitive information and hide your IP address. However if the stalking persists it may be a time to call the police by dialling (0860010111) they will handle the matter. Law enforcement and social media platforms are on your side and they are there to protect you and play a crucial role in your safety and they are always ready to intervene on your behalf. Do not hesitate to contact the police to report cyber stalking. It does not select potential victims everyone can be a victim both males and females but females between the ages of 18/30 are most likely to become victims.
In a telephone survey conducted by the University of Cincinnati, 4,446 randomly selected women, who were attending a two to four year course in an institution of higher education, it was found that a stalking incident was defined as a case in which a respondent answered positively when asked if someone had repeatedly followed you, watched, phoned, written, e-mailed or communicated with them in other ways seemed obsessive and made them afraid or concerned for their safety. “The study found that 581 women (13, 1 percent) were stalked. According to Phindile Mazibuko, 23 year old who is a victim of cyber bullying said “to have a stalker is a nightmare that I do not wish can happen to my worst enemy, I lost lots of kilos because of my stalker and the most disturbing issue about my situation is that my stalker was the father of my child, he failed to accept that I moved on with my life after I broke up with him, so I am asking anyone who is a victim to report the matter to the police before is too late. They helped me and by arresting my ex I gained my life back”.
THE
F
final
or many years I have been attending meetings at various police stations, in addition to having a fair amount to do with many local Community Policing Forums.
circumstances. It is sad that there is not enough funds to have working vehicles, a good and effective computer system, and above all not enough feet on the ground.
This involvement has meant that I have been privy to a great deal of information about crimes committed on both individuals and businesses. It’s always so very easy to blame the SA Police Services, in one-way or another, for just about every crime committed.
Then there is the bribe and corruption factor. Sadly it’s a fact of life that there are unfortunately always a few rotten apples in every barrel.
But believe me this is seldom the case and I am always amazed, given the amount of crime that we are plagued with, at the carelessness of members of the general public that constantly rears its head and leads to both minor and major criminal acts being committed. One of the most regular situations is when a householder or business employee leaves front doors and security gates wide open while alone in the home or business; perhaps a woman engrossed in doing washing or ironing in the back of the home; a secretary doing some filing. This person cannot understand it when a passing SAP member calls out from her front door enquiring if she is aware of the dangers she place herself In. Instead of thanking the member for pointing out her potential danger, she very often becomes abusive. Many years ago you could happily talk of living in a SECURE COMPLEX as being one surrounded by a 2 meter electric fence and secure gates. Unfortunately today I don’t believe there is a safe complex. You can no longer cease to take other additional precautions such as alarms and burglar guards embedded into the window frames. The average criminal of today is fairly bright and has probably had lots of experience with overcoming even electric fencing, electric gates and alarm systems. So I beg of you to be fully aware of potential dangers at all times and not carelessly let your guard down, even for a short while. Yes, it is extremely unfortunate that we have to live like this but it is always better to be safe than sorry. The policing authorities cannot be everywhere at all times and it’s my firm belief that the average police member does the best they can under difficult
TIPS ON PERSONAL SAFETY Guidelines on what to do during an armed robbery. When an armed robbery takes place at any location, the likelihood of the incident turning violent, resulting in injuries to personnel and customers, can be effectively reduced by the behavior of the staff and customers. Don’t resist! Do exactly as you are told. The robbers are in control of the situation because they are armed, and it serves no purpose to resist their instructions you will only be putting lives at risk. Relax! Regulate your breathing, taking long, slow, deliberate breaths. This slows your heart rate, and helps you to relax. Speak slowly! Don’t shout or raise your voice at the robbers. They are probably more nervous than you are, and it won’t take much for them to lose any selfcontrol they may possess. Don’t make any sudden movements? When you want to do something - even if it is an instruction from the robber - tell him what you are doing -”I am going to take the keys out of my pocket now” and then do it slowly. Don’t set off the Siren: Activate the alarm only if you can do it secretly. Many armed robberies have turned violent because the siren puts the robbers into a panic. Only set off the alarm if you can do so without the robbers seeing you. Don’t look the robber directly in the face: The robber may believe that you are trying to memorize his features for identification, and could lead to him shooting you in order to prevent this. Observation techniques: Clear information on robbers always assist in
WORD an SAPS investigation. However, this should not be done at the risk of your life or that of the persons around you. Don’t make it obvious that you are observing the robbers. Focus on one person at a time & gain an overall impression first; • Height and build • Firearm or other weapon • Clothing • Special features a limp, deformities, birthmarks, etc then look at details· • Facial features - round sharp, eyes close set / wide apart, etc. • Remember any names used by the robbers when talking to each other. Remember what they touch, where they walk, any cigarette butts discarded, body fluids deposited etc If there are any vehicles present, the same rules apply. Overall impression first, and then the details. • First look at the make and model • Colour • Noticeable features • Registration number Give the robbers time to leave: Don’t shout or do anything else until the robbers have left the premises. Don’t be a hero. Don’t attempt to prevent the robbers’ get-away. Many crime scenes have turned violent as the robbers are leaving, resulting in deaths and injuries to staff and customers. Wait until they are gone before you react to the situation. Sadly this is a fact of life here in South Africa. In the event of a carjacking or robbery let them take the goods you life is far more precious. So as the festive season approaches please be safe, wear you masks when you go out. Remember to keep a social distance of 1.5 meters and sanitize or wash your hands regularly We wish all our subscribers, readers and all the first responders a safe quiet and hopefully crime free holiday season. Spare a thought - or a meal for the security guards community and neighborhood watch members who watch over your house and you all year and especially at this time. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy, Prosperous New Year! Martyn Smithers Page 17
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