In recent weeks, three incidents of criminals targeting people as they enter their driveways have been reported to ADT Security.<\/p>\n
Theunis Kotze, general manager of ADT inland region, urges residents to stay vigilant when entering or exiting their homes.<\/p>
\u201cFrom the incident reports we have received, it appears that these driveway robberies are most often opportunistic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere doesn\u2019t seem to be a pattern in terms of time of day or particular areas being targeted,\u201d he said.<\/p>
In the first incident, the driver of the vehicle was parked in his driveway waiting for the gate to open when a vehicle stopped behind his car and two armed suspects held him at gunpoint and demanded that he get out of the car.<\/p>\n
Fortunately the driver was unharmed and the vehicle later recovered by a tracking company.<\/p>\n
In a second incident, a high-profile resident was held up in Craighall while she was waiting for her gate to close.<\/p>\n
A vehicle tailgated her and blocked the gate from closing.<\/p>\n
The suspects fled the scene after taking her jewellery.<\/p>\n
Fortunately she was unharmed during the incident.<\/p>\n
In a third incident, a resident in Lukasrand, Pretoria, had just arrived home, when a vehicle tailgated her, blocked the gate from closing and three armed suspects demanded her keys.<\/p>\n
The suspects took valuables and left in the vehicle.<\/p>\n
No one was harmed in the incident.<\/p>\n
Kotze said in light of these incidents, it is crucial that residents be alert and report any suspicious behaviour to their security company or the SAPS immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cResidents need to know who belongs in the vicinity of their homes and workplaces and keep a look out for anything out of the ordinary,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you get home, do not turn into your driveway while waiting for your gate to open.<\/p>\n
\u201cPark next to your entrance while you open the gate to allow for a quick getaway if necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy stopping at your gate in your driveway, you place yourself in a vulnerable position and could get easily boxed in by potential hijackers.<\/p>\n
\u201cShut your gate immediately behind you.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is a car behind you wait for the car to pass you before opening your gate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kotze added that automated gates can be set to close within a certain time and recommends speaking to an electrician as to what your timing is.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously the longer your gate takes to close, the bigger the window of opportunity for criminals.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t open the gate and garage at the same time.\u201cBy doing so you ensure criminals don\u2019t have automatic access to your house too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMost importantly if you think you\u2019re being followed, drive past your gate and contact your security company or the SAPS immediately,\u201d said Kotze.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Other crime articles:<\/p>\n
Family returning home from airport held up at gun-point<\/a><\/p>\n