05 Dec 2016

The hype and aura of the festive season is here, hence the public should adopt a proactive approach against the accompanying ills of petty theft, house break in, robberies and car hijackings.

According to a press statement, Botswana Insurance Company with the support of Botswana Police Service, has come up with a few tips which if observed may help to avoid being a statistic of crime.

It says some of the suggested protection measures that could be put in place to deter intruders is making it look like the owners are not on vacation at all, for example, investing in a radio alarm system with a reputable security company and use of switch timers for internal lights which would be set to go on at a particular programmed time of the day making it appear like the property is occupied.

In addition, members of the public are cautioned to refrain from advertising their imminent departure every time they leave their homes as that would expose them to monitoring by potential intruders.

They should not give hints of their absence at any point or post on social media about one’s vacation and their date of return as that would undermine all other precautionary measures put in place.

Another idea is engaging someone to do house sitting to keep intruders at bay, or joining a neighbourhood watch which would mean that every suspicious movement around the house or property becomes a subject of scrutiny by neighbours who at the earliest opportunity would raise an alarm and have the police attend to their potential clients in time.

The statement says Botswana police spokesperson in the Public Relations Department, Senior Superintendent Near Bagali stated that another area infested with criminals ready to prey on unsuspecting members of the public was the bus rank where these thugs pose as bus conductors keen to help travelling customers only to disappear with their bags and goods.

He stated that the business community could go a long way in reinforcing public safety and security by installing CCTV cameras as a deterrent measure in their stores and facilities where criminals tend to target their unsuspecting customers during shopping sprees.

With regard to motor vehicle security, drivers are to take extra precautions if visiting South Africa where car hijackings are common and they are encouraged to always notify family or trusted friends of their intended route and expected time of arrival. Mr Bagali said people should not pick strangers or hitch hikers and they should also be mindful of their surroundings and be alert on the roads.

Mr Bagali cautioned vehicle owners to ensure they have tracking devices installed in their cars.

“These have the effect of making criminals think twice thereby minimizing incidences of car theft or at least delay until possible police interception,” he said.

He said as at December 2014, 41 vehicles were stolen, 25 in 2015, eight of which the owners suffered violence and this year as at November, 19 vehicles had been stolen and violence was used in five of the incidents.

Mr Bagali encouraged people that when they go out for shopping, they should be aware of their surroundings, pay attention to who is around them, what they are doing and what activities are going on.

He said they should also be aware of how they carry their purse or wallet and also remove any unnecessary items and leave them at home. ENDS