Safety Awareness - Parking/Driving

SAFETY AWARENESS WHEN PARKING/DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

• Avoid parking your motor vehicle where there are no security officers guarding other cars.
• Do not leave your firearm in the motor vehicle=s glove compartment (cubbyhole) or anywhere in the vehicle when you park the vehicle (this is against the law!).
• Make sure that all the doors and windows are properly locked when you park your car.
• Valuable items like a laptop and camera should be put in the boot of your car.
• Be aware of people coming to you and informing you that you have a flat tire, the intention can be to steal items that they see inside the car or rob your car.
• Always close your windows when driving in the city centre.
• Do not open your windows for hawkers along the road and at the robots.
• Keep the doors locked and windows closed at all times.
• Do not use a cellular phone unless you have a hands-free kit.
• Lock your valuables in the cars boot before departure.
• At night, park in well-lit areas.
• If in doubt about the safety of an area, phone a police station for advice.
• Practice the same prevention skills you apply in parking lots or garages at home.
• Become familiar with your route before you start the trip.
• Get a map of the route and study it.
• Store luggage in the cars boot where it is out of sight.
• Do not leave your goods/valuable items visible in the car.
• Do not leave your handbag/briefcase visible in the car.
• Do not leave your keys in the ignition.
• Always lock the doors and close the windows when getting out of the car.
• Remove detachable radios and the radio=s face when getting out of the car.
• Try to fit an alarm and/or anti-theft device in your car.
• Have your keys ready in your hand as you approach your car, especially if they are difficult to find in your handbag.
• Parking lots with a parking attendant or supervision/ someone patrolling are best, otherwise try to park in locations that are well lit and/or well populated and not crowded by bushes or buildings where offenders might hide.

Safety Awareness In Vehicle

Safety Awareness in a Vehicle

• Ensure that your vehicle is in a good condition when you plan to go on a journey.
• Ensure that the fuel tank of your vehicle always has sufficient fuel.
• Always lock your vehicles doors and keep the windows closed.
• Do not leave your vehicle unlocked, even if you think you will be away for only a minute.
• Avoid to stop at remote places.
• Park your vehicle in places that are well lit.
• If a stranger wants to talk to you while in your vehicle, do not open the window wide -only 5 cm is enough to have a discussion.
• If something seems suspicious, do not talk to strangers, rather be rude and drive away.
• Limit your trips at night or at least take someone along with you.
• Vary the route you travel to work and back, if this is possible.
• If approached by a stranger while in your car, drive off if possible or press your hooter to attract attention.
• If strangers loiter near or at your driveway, rather drive past. If they loiter for a long time, report it to your nearest police station.
• Car jackers may stage a minor accident so they can approach your car.
• If your car is bumped from behind and you do not feel comfortable with the individual(s) involved in the situation, drive to the nearest police station for help.
• Do not reach for your purse or valuables. Leave everything behind if forced from the car.
• Your life is more valuable than your possessions.
• Do not resist, especially if the thief has a weapon.
• Give up your vehicle with no questions asked and move away.
• A lift club limits the risk of becoming a victim of crime.
• Do not give strangers a lift.
• A gear lock is an affordable and a very effective anti-theft device.
• If possible, put up a mirror against the front wall of your garage to see if someone is following you into the garage.
• Do not open your garage doors before your gates are closed.

Crime Awareness - Safety At ATM

At the ATM

• Be alert and conscious of your surroundings when using the ATM.
• Never give your card or PIN( Personal Identification Number) to anyone, for any reason.
• Dont write your PIN on the card or anything that is kept with the card.
• Do not insert your card until asked to do so by the display screen.
• Never use an ATM with a blank screen and, if the ATM is obscured from view or poorly lit, leave immediately and find another ATM.
• Stand close to the ATM and use your body and hand as shield to make sure nobody sees you keying in your pin.
• Also, make sure you keep your hand over the card slot to make sure nobody can swop or take your card.
• Never accept help from strangers when using an ATM. You should be wary of strangers asking for help.
• Criminals work in teams- one to distract you while the other steals your card or money.
• If your card is retained (swallowed) by the ATM it is advisable to phone your bank toll free stop card line immediately and stop your card.
• Never allow a bystander to call the toll-free stop card line on your behalf- they could be tricking you into thinking your card has been stopped.
• Guards are placed at ATMs to discourage criminal activities and therefore cannot help you with transactions.
• If you need help, ask a bank official.
• It is advisable to set a daily ATM withdrawal limit at your branch.

Safety Awareness At Home - Communication

Communication

There should be two systems for alternative back up:

• Telephone
• Cellular phone

Have the telephone installed where it is easily accessible from anywhere in the house.

Inform your children not to give an indication that adult supervision is not available when they answer the phone.

Safety Awareness At Home - Access & Key Control

Access and Key Control

Do not allow strangers on your premises or in your house without having properly identifying the person, especially at night.

Implement proper key control measures.

Identify keys by means of codes instead of indicating in writing on labels to which gate/door access can be gained.

Keys to the safe must be kept on the person.

Never hide any keys in traditional places, such as in pot plants or under doormats.

Keys in the keyhole on the inside of the front or back door should be turned to avoid easy removal.

Never allow strangers to handle keys or look at key numbers.

Change locks when keys are lost.

Insert barring devices in door locks.

Remove keys from doors when leaving.

Safety Awareness At Home - Security Lights

Security Lights

Security lights on the outside of the house improve the physical protection of a house, farm or smallholding.

The lights must be directed away from the house and must allow the occupants to use the windows without being observed from outside.

Be aware of possible shadows and blind spots.

Safety Precautions

Ensure that all doors are locked at all times, and that windows are closed when you are not at home.

Large dogs serve as a deterrent. At least one dog should be trained to sleep inside the house.

If you leave your residence, inform your family/ neighbours of your intended destination, time you expect to return and the route you will be driving, especially if you reside in a rural area.

Ensure that tools such as axes, spades, picks, ladders, etc that can be used in an attack, are locked away when you do not use them.

Vary your daily routine.

Get into the habit of not immediately falling asleep after switching off the lights.

Remain awake for a while.

You should not be visible in the bedroom from the outside when you are asleep.

Always keep a torch nearby at night and when you use it, ensure that you do not give away your position.

If you are unsure about the security status of your home after returning from work/a visit, eg your dogs do not come to the gate, do not enter your home.

Contact your neighbour to assist you in securing your home.

Identify relatively safe places of refuge, ie: bathroom, toilet or storeroom.

The fewer windows and doors these rooms have, the better.

Involve employees as they are part of the family/team.

Employees must be involved in maintaining security on an equal footing.

Report suspicious behaviour and information to the South African Police Service.

Clear the areas around the gates of bushes and other hiding places.

Take photographs of all employees.

It could be to your advantage to identify them, if required.

Remunerate your employees when useful information is provided that contribute to the prevention of crime.

Do not employ casual workers without a reference.

Keep copies of all your employees - Identity Documents (ID's).

Ensure that you have a good relationship with your neighbours so that you will be in a good position to support and help each other

Safety Awareness At Home - Alarm System

Alarm Systems

An alarm system, preferably connected to an armed response company, can act as an effective deterrent.

In the rural environment a siren/alarm on the roof that can be heard over a long distance and that can be activated by means of a switch/panic button in the house, is recommended.

A few switches/panic buttons in different rooms of the house should preferably be installed.

An alarm must also have the capability to warn the occupants of any intrusion into the house.

Examples of alarm systems:

• Mechanical and/or electrical (purchased types)
• Improvised systems
• Threaded tins
• Threaded pieces of iron
• Gravel on window pains, pathways or around the home
• Obstacles that can make a noise when moved
• Biological Systems:
  • Dogs
  • Geese
  • Ostriches