As a South African home owner with children, you should be aware of the risk and danger of home burglary and home invasions.
Home burglary is when someone breaks into your home when you are not there, while home invasion is when someone forces their way into your home when you are present.
Both crimes can result in loss of property, injury or even death.
HOME OWNER APATHY
Amazingly – many South African homeowners simply ignore the risks, or have the attitude that it won’t happen to them.
It’s a proven physcological response of humans- to reason that incidents such as these only happen to people through their own fault.
In other instances home owners claim that they are unable to afford the security measures required. This is certainly the case in many instances.
Often though, those same home owners have one or two luxury vehicles parked in the garage, are using iphones and apple devices and are spending large amounts monthly on internet, data and other entertainment.
Because many home owners have the attitude that burglary and home invasion won’t happen to them, they assign less priority to the security of their home than to other requirements.
The reality is that this crime can affect anyone through no fault of their own, even those who have taken the necessary precautions are not guaranteed to experience a crime free life.
HOW REAL IS THE THREAT?
Home burglary and home invasion are very common crimes in South Africa. According to Statistics South Africa, there were about 1.3 million incidents of housebreaking affecting 5.8% of households in 2019/20 .
The statistics reveal a worrying trend of increased crime and insecurity in the country.
Housebreaking, also known as burglary or breaking and entering, is defined as the unlawful and intentional entry into a building with the intent to commit an offence.
According to the report, most of the incidents occurred during the day when no one was at home, and the most common items stolen were cellphones, cash, laptops and jewellery
Home invasion is considered a more severe form of crime, as it involves violence and intimidation against the homeowners and their family members. Home invaders often act on inside information and survey your home and your patterns before making their attack.
WHAT ARE THE MOTIVATIONS, METHODS AND CONSEQUENCES OF THIS CRIME?
Researchers interviewed 30 convicted house breakers who were serving sentences in various correctional facilities. The interviews were semi-structured and covered topics such as the reasons for choosing house breaking as a criminal activity, the selection of targets, the planning and execution of the crime, the use of violence and weapons, the disposal of stolen goods, and the impact of house breaking on the victims and the offenders.
The study found that house breaking was mainly motivated by economic factors, such as poverty, unemployment and drug addiction.
“Your most useless and often, most taken for granted items, are extremely valuable to a drug addict”
The offenders also reported a lack of social support, education and skills as factors that limited their legitimate opportunities.
METHODS AND MOTIVATION
The offenders used various techniques to identify vulnerable houses, such as;
observing the routines of the occupants,
looking for signs of wealth or absence of adults, or the presence of vulnerable adults or children,
relying on informants or accomplices.
The offenders also employed different strategies to gain entry into the houses, such as
breaking windows or doors,
picking locks or using keys,
pretending to be service providers or visitors.
The offenders usually acted in groups of two to four people and carried weapons such as knives, guns or crowbars for protection or intimidation.
The offenders stole items that were easy to carry and sell, such as cash, jewelry, electronics and appliances.
The offenders often sold the stolen goods to middlemen or pawn shops for a fraction of their value.
CONSEQUENCES
The study also revealed that house breaking had negative effects on both the victims.
The victims experienced
fear,
anger,
violation and loss of trust as a result of being burgled.
Some victims also suffered physical injuries or psychological trauma if they encountered the offenders during the crime.
REDUCING THE RISK
To protect yourself and your children from these crimes, you should take some precautions to make your home less attractive and more secure for potential
intruders.
Here are some tips:
- Install a reliable alarm system and CCTV cameras that can alert you and the security company of any suspicious activity around your home.
- Keep your doors and windows locked at all times, even when you are at home. Use strong locks, bars, gates and security doors that can resist forced entry. The driveway gate is the first point of contact for criminals in 90% of these crimes, and should be given a lot of attention.
- Avoid leaving valuables or cash in plain sight or in easy-to-access places. Use a safe or a bank deposit box to store your important documents and
items. - Be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Do not open your door to strangers or let anyone into your home unless you have arranged for them to be there. Check the identity of any service providers or delivery people before letting them in.
- Have an emergency plan in case of a home invasion. Teach your children what to do and where to go if someone breaks into your home. Have a panic button or a phone nearby that can call for help. Do not resist or confront the intruders, as they may be armed and dangerous.
Home burglary and home invasion are serious threats to your safety and well-being. By following these tips, you can reduce the risk of becoming a victim and protect yourself and your children from harm.
Article by Gensix Technology
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