February is the Month of Love, a great time to think again about how you can look after the safety of your loved ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many things you can do to improve the safety of loved ones and belongings.<\/p>
\u201cIt is easy, and some of it won\u2019t event cost a cent,\u201d said Charnel Hattingh, national marketing and communications manager at Fidelity ADT.<\/p>\n
A good place to start, she said, is to make sure everyone in your household knows exactly who to call in case of an emergency.<\/p>
\u201cPeople understandably panic when something has gone wrong which makes it difficult to think rationally and clearly,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSit down with your loved ones today, and talk to them about who they should contact.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo they have the correct contact numbers for the police, your neighbourhood watch, your security company, or your closest hospital saved on their phones?\u201d<\/p>\n
Another great idea is to look at your property, and see what you can do to make it less attractive to would-be criminals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe suggest talking a walk around the garden or yard to look for anything that could help an intruder access and exit the property easily.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre there low-hanging tree branches that can be used to climb over a fence or wall?<\/p>\n
\u201cInspect the locks on perimeter gates and garage doors \u2013 are they in good condition, or can they be broken with some force?<\/p>\n
\u201cBe on the lookout for anything that can be used to force entry.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if you have an electric fence, when last did you test it?\u201d said Hattingh.<\/p>\n
Inside the house, she suggested that window and door locks must be checked regularly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that outward-leading doors, and windows, are locked from the inside when no-one is home and overnight.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegardless of the time of day, keep curtains or blinds drawn in a way that makes it difficult to see in from the outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, never leave valuables \u2013 or keys \u2013 anywhere that they can be seen or reached from a window,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Heed these ATM safety tips<\/a><\/p>\n SAPS urge community to follow these safety tips<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If there is a home security system installed, she advised that it is regularly tested to ensure that it is in proper working condition when it\u2019s needed most.<\/p>\n \u201cContact your security company to find out how to test the system.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have other security products in place \u2013 such as outdoor beams \u2013 ask how these can be tested too,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Lastly, if there is any reason to believe that there is an intruder on the property, Hattingh\u2019s advice is to never go outside to investigate.<\/p>\n \u201cMake sure that everyone in the household know that they must immediately call the police or your security company.<\/p>\n \u201cTry to remain on the line with them until officers arrive, and only venture outside once they indicate that it is safe to do so,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n