As the evenings and mornings grow darker, Charnel Hattingh, national marketing and communications manager of Fidelity ADT, is urging learners and students to be vigilant when heading to and from school, colleges or universities.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany students leave home during the dark, early hours of the morning to catch taxis and buses to get to school or tertiary institutions.<\/p>
\u201cThey also head home in the dark at the end of the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, opportunistic criminals use the cover of darkness to prey on unsuspecting victims,\u201d she said.<\/p>
She urged students to always walk in groups.<\/p>\n
If this is not possible try to keep to well-lit streets and areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso keep your valuables hidden or rather leave them at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t carry large amounts of cash if you can avoid it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Always tell someone when you are leaving and what time you are expecting to be back.<\/p>\n
Hattingh also suggested looking into possibly paying slightly more but getting a taxi service that will fetch you from your home during the winter months.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Remember these safety tips this winter<\/a><\/p>\n Are you serious about fire prevention in your home?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere are many private services on offer now where a driver will pick up several students from their homes and drop them at school.<\/p>\n \u201cIt may be a better option during the winter,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She added that there are also security apps that are available that can track the user in the event of an emergency.<\/p>\n \u201cThese apps, like Fidelity ADT FindU for example, are relatively inexpensive and mean that if you find yourself in a situation or begin to feel scared while walking you can trigger the alert and a security person will be dispatched to find you.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth looking into,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Most importantly, said Hattingh, is being alert and aware of what is happening around you.<\/p>\n \u201cPut your earphones and cellphones away.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at what is around you.<\/p>\n \u201cTake note of people and places so anything out of the ordinary will be obvious.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s all be security conscious during these darker winter months,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e 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 Kgotsofalang 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<\/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