Nowadays, “security” is as much part of the South African vernacular as “braai” or “rugby”. The notions of crime and its various countermeasures have become so embedded in our psyches that we base virtually every decision – from what route to take to work to what cars we drive – around the wellbeing of ourselves and our loved ones. The fact that the United States Embassy recently issued a warning regarding possible terrorist attacks targeting South African shopping malls, and both the UK and Australia have released travel warnings to its citizens, has done little to quell the pervading sense of impending doom many South Africans feel.
Added to the concerns about personal safety, many citizens are worried about the potential financial toll upgrading their home security might take. A truly robust security infrastructure can be costly and, with fuel and food prices on the rise, security is being forced to take a backseat to primary needs.
But there are things that you can do right now in order to feel – and be – more secure, and it need not be an expensive exercise.
Download Zello
Zello is a “push-to-talk” application for mobile devices that essentially turns your phone into a Walkie Talkie device. Zello channels exist for different communities (for example Northcliffe, Radiokop, etc.) and it is an incredibly effective way to communicate with other members of the community, as well as community policing forums, in the event of an emergency. Various community social media pages have reported success stories of Zello being used to prevent crimes and even apprehend criminals. It is available as a free download from the Apple App Store as well as the Google Play Store.
Use Internet Banking
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: in the fight against crime, technology is your friend. ATMs are hotspots for criminal activity, and drawing cash – especially large amounts – unfortunately makes you a target. Setting up an Internet banking profile is usually free and, in addition to being convenient, saves you from putting yourself at risk by drawing and carrying cash.
Use Social Media To Your Advantage – But Use It Wisely
The wonderful thing about social media is that it allows for the diffusion of information in real time, making it easy for you to keep abreast of the latest crime trends, hotspots, etc. You’re likely to find a page dedicated to your own town or community on Facebook and, if there isn’t one, why not be a change agent for your community by setting one up? On the flipside of the coin, announcing to the world that you’ll be out of town for a while could undermine your security efforts.
If Your Car Has Air Conditioning, Use It
One summer afternoon back in 2014 saw me driving back from my then-girlfriend’s place in Pretoria on a route that took me right through the city centre, an area notorious for smash-and-grab incidents. When I came to a stop at a red traffic light (behind another car), two gentlemen came up to my car, and one leaned right into my window to tell me in no uncertain terms that he would subject me to significant physical harm (he mentioned a firearm) if I did not immediately hand over my cellphone and other valuables. I obliged.
In retrospect, the incident could have been avoided (or, at the very least, I could have minimised the likelihood of it happening to me) if my window had not been rolled all the way down. By keeping my window open to let the oppressive December heat escape, in an area I knew to be dangerous, I had made a soft target of myself. If you do find yourself driving through a dangerous part of the city, remember to keep your windows closed, your doors locked, and valuables well out of sight (preferably in your car’s glove compartment).
Adopt A Healthy Degree Of Suspicion
We’re not saying lose all faith in humanity, but do keep in mind that criminals rely on your trust to be able to ply their nefarious trade. If you get a call from your bank or credit card company ostensibly to tell you about a problem with your account or card, rather hang up and call the number on the back of your card for verification. You might just be saving yourself a lot of potential heartache.
Source: http://www.centsys.co.za/
