The following Safety Bulletin was shared by DUMA Tactical

In Burglary of Single-Family Houses, it was shown that burglars select targets based on a number of key factors, including the following:

♦Familiarity with the target and convenience of the location
♦Occupancy
♦Visibility or ease of surveying
♦Accessibility
♦Vulnerability or security
♦Potential rewards

Useful and helpful crime and burglary prevention steps:

♦Use common sense—don’t be an easy target.
♦Install quality locks on doors and windows and use them.
♦Lock and close your doors and windows even when you're home.
♦Do not rely on thumb-turn locks on windows, as they can be unlocked through a broken window.
♦Install deadbolt locks and peepholes on exterior doors and any interior door between the garage and house.
♦Do not leave your garage door open or unlocked if you are are home or not in the immediate area.
♦Pay attention to suspicious activity or anything that appears out of place.
♦Immediately report any and all suspicious activity by calling your Security Company or local SAPS Sector vehicle in the event of an emergency.
♦If you have an alarm, set it!
♦Lighting is one of the best deterrents to nigh time burglary — outdoor lighting are important. Install lights by all exterior doors and make bulbs hard to reach.
♦Don't let strangers into your home—this includes workers and other—if you are not with them.
♦Never give keys to people making improvements to your home.
♦If you are going to be out of town have family, friends, or neighbours check on your home.
♦Do not hide spare house keys outside your home but leave them with a trusted neighbour instead.
♦Photograph your valuables and engrave your property with a form of identification.
♦Have locks changed or re-keyed when moving into a new home or apartment.
♦Install track-type locks, drop bars, wooden dowels, or pinning devices on sliding glass doors.
♦Trim shrubs around doors and windows so burglars don't have a sheltered place to work. Keep your driveway visible and clear of excess vegetation.
♦Store ladders and other 'climbing tools “in the garage or padlock them to fixed objects so burglars can't use them to reach upper floor windows or the roof