All companies or businesses will have their own security arrangements in place, these obviously differ dependant on requirements, but there are some basic rules that apply to everyone.
- The perimeter of your premises is your first line of defense, walls, fences and gates should be of the best possible construction and where possible should be electrified and connected into alarm systems.
- External lighting is very important, the exterior of your building and the yard should be adequately illuminated.
- Physical security of your buildings should include good quality burglar bars, sturdy doors, grille doors fitted as additional protection and top quality locks.
- Good “housekeeping” goes a long way in preventing loss, apart from ensuring good workable control systems, do not neglect the obvious - goods of any value should not be left out in yards or in insecure buildings, fuel in drums needs to be stored in a well secured area, scrap or waste product should not be left lying around or piled against perimeter walls and so on. Vehicles should always be locked with the keys under senior management control.
- Strict key control is vital, only senior responsible staff should hold keys to office complexes with individual office keys being held by the occupant only. Too often there is a policy in place where office occupants just walk out and leave it up to someone else, usually cleaning or security staff, to lock offices and retain the keys. This is totally irresponsible and is an invitation for something to go wrong.
- If you are not sure of your key security, or suspect that it may have been compromised in recent years, it is advisable to change all external locks, using good quality alternatives, and then implement the strictest possible controls.
- Alarm systems should be regularly tested to ensure functionality. Where a system is present, again only senior designated members of staff should be give the codes and they should ensure that it is properly armed at the close of business, irrespective of how inconvenient it may be.
- If you have to move cash, do not set a pattern and involve as few staff members as possible, keep the information very much on a “need to know basis”.
- Avoid storing large sums of cash on your premises but where this is unavoidable, a proper strongroom or safe, protected by alarms, should be present. Dual key-holders in these instances are preferable.
- Brief all staff members on the need for security awareness, they must continually be alert to what is going on around them, see who is doing what, notice strangers in the premises, report the abnormal and so on. Security is a team effort and requires input from all your staff members as well as the security provider
Whilst we usually make sure that our business environment is secure, we very often neglect our homes and leave ourselves open to becoming victims. Most criminals are opportunists and if we make their job as difficult as possible, they will usually move on in search of an easier target.
Intrusion in your home, violent or otherwise, is traumatic and very unpleasant. There are some common sense, basic steps that can be taken to enhance your personal security and that of your family and home.
- If you have gates make sure that they are closed and locked at all times
- Make sure that external doors are locked whilst you are in the house. To allow for airflow, solid lockable grill gates can be fitted to your external doors.
- Do not allow off duty household staff or security guards to hold keys to your house.
- Make sure that you know where all your house keys are, if you are not sure have the external locked changed and control the new keys very strictly.
- If possible, avoid keeping large quantities of cash at home even if you have a safe.
- Do not allow any stranger entry to your yard or house, no matter how plausible their story may be.
- Advise children and Household staff of the need to refuse entry to persons during your absence – particularly the bogus repair man who has come to collect the Fridge or TV for repair !
- Don’t go outside at night to attend to strangers or strange noises, rather telephone for help first.
- Don’t leave property such as bicycles, toys or furniture in the garden, endeavor to secure it.
- Ensure that garden walls, fences and external lights are in a good state of repair.
- Frequently test any alarm, electric fence and remote panic systems
- Do not give your alarm codes to anyone other than members of your immediate family, impress on children the need for the strict confidentiality of these.
- Lock all vehicles at night, no matter how well secured your yard, and never leave keys with staff or outsiders.
- If you have dogs, listen to them when they are trying to warn you, you will know when they are genuinely alarmed.
- If you area away, arrange for a close friend or family member to check on your property at infrequent intervals.
- Have important telephone numbers displayed by your phone – show your children where they are.
Taking a bit of time to review your home security will pay dividends and give you peace of mind as well as increased levels of safety.
- Lock all vehicle doors and only keep windows slightly open
- When you are about 2 kms from home, slow down, and start looking for trouble – know who is behind you, in front of you or lurking on the curb or in the vicinity.
- Do not turn off the road into your drive until you are sure you are safe, it’s wise to stay on the verge outside your gate for a minute or so with the car in gear and facing down the road. Use this time to observe what is going on around you.
- Alter your routes home as often as possible, don’t set patterns
- If possible, arrange for someone to open the gates for you, and shut them again quickly after you are in. LOCK THEM
- If you have a cell phone, use it to warn people at your destination that you are on the way.
- If you are suspicious about anything, DO NOT STOP, drive straight to the police or an area where there are a lot of people – shopping Centres, Service Stations etc.
- Check who is around your car at shopping centres before you get out or into your vehicle.
- Use your children and other passengers to be another pair of eyes for you.
- Put your handbag, briefcase and cell phone OUT OF SIGHT
- Get into the habit NOW of being AWAKE, AWARE AND ALERT – it’s your only protection
If you are Hijacked,
- DO NOT FIGHT BACK OR RESIST – if you do, you will be injured
- DO NOT throw your keys away or attempt any “clever” tricks.
- If the Hijackers ask about anti-hijack devices, cut out switches etc, tell the truth, do not attempt to withhold this information as it has been known that hijackers will take passengers with them in case they have been lied to.
- If you have small children in the car, CALMLY tell the hijackers that you are taking them out of the vehicle, do so slowly and quietly.
- Put your hands up and BACK OFF SLOWLY.
- Try to identify one of the hijackers and the get away vehicle
- DO NOT PANIC – if they ask for anything like jewellery, give it to them
- Make sure the hijackers have left the area after they have left you before you do anything further.
- Call a neighbour to help you.
- Your neighbour should phone your local police station and give your name, address and telephone numbers. If necessary send someone to fetch the police.
- Have all emergency numbers written / typed out and printed and left by the phone for easy access.
REMEMBER - HI-JACKERS ARE UNSTABLE AND VIOLENT – TRY TO BRING THE SITUATION TO AN END AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BY CO-OPERATING WITH THEM. AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS, TRY TO REMAIN CALM AND DO NOT DO ANYTHING THAT MAY BE PROVOCATIVE.