How safe is your home? - 15 Sep 2009 08:31
According to statistics provided by ADT Security, a recent study of Rudolhp Zinn of the School of Criminal Justice at UNISA shows an increase of home robberies and which items are commonly stolen. You might want to up your home insurance and household or contents insurance cover in light of the following statistics.
Over the last year, there was a 13.5 percent increase of house robberies than the year before. A total of almost 15,000 homes were burgled with 50 percent or half of those taking place in Gauteng.
Based on those who were arrested, robbers on average are between the ages of 19 and 26 years and mostly South African (only 17 percent are foreign). A hefty 30 percent of all robbers have either or won’t hesitate to commit murder. Ten percent left their jobs to earn more from a robbery than what they were currently getting paid.
The targets of these criminals are visibly obvious to be targets, those affluent with open displays of wealth in the form of expensive cars. jewellery and up-market homes. Criminals gather information about their target, the home, neighbours, often through domestic workers. In fact about 80 percent of residential robberies are committed with the help of gardeners, domestic workers or former employees. These homes are then watched and monitored for up to two weeks before a robbery to formulate a strategy.
Most residential crimes take place between 19h00 and midnight while people are home and have de-activated the alarm system. Some robberies take place between midnight and 04h00. Better than an alarm system, or at least as effective, are small home dogs. These, according to arrested criminals, are their biggest deterrent and might be worthwhile investing in as burglars and gangs monitor the response time of armed response companies and alarm systems, electric fences and CCTV are only a slight deterrent.
About R5,000 worth of goods are stolen in each case usually with minimal injury caused to home owners. A minor 35 percent steal for basic needs while others for money. A large 97 percent of burglars are armed with on average 4 members to each robbery.
Factoring in that a minute 7.67 percent of residential burglars are convicted in South African (compared to the 53 percent of the United States), you might need to take you own security precautions. Make sure your security equipment is in working order and that you are adequately covered for such an event. It can happen to anyone.
According to statistics provided by ADT Security, a recent study of Rudolhp Zinn of the School of Criminal Justice at UNISA shows an increase of home robberies and which items are commonly stolen. You might want to up your home insurance and household or contents insurance cover in light of the following statistics.
Over the last year, there was a 13.5 percent increase of house robberies than the year before. A total of almost 15,000 homes were burgled with 50 percent or half of those taking place in Gauteng.
Based on those who were arrested, robbers on average are between the ages of 19 and 26 years and mostly South African (only 17 percent are foreign). A hefty 30 percent of all robbers have either or won’t hesitate to commit murder. Ten percent left their jobs to earn more from a robbery than what they were currently getting paid.
The targets of these criminals are visibly obvious to be targets, those affluent with open displays of wealth in the form of expensive cars. jewellery and up-market homes. Criminals gather information about their target, the home, neighbours, often through domestic workers. In fact about 80 percent of residential robberies are committed with the help of gardeners, domestic workers or former employees. These homes are then watched and monitored for up to two weeks before a robbery to formulate a strategy.
Most residential crimes take place between 19h00 and midnight while people are home and have de-activated the alarm system. Some robberies take place between midnight and 04h00. Better than an alarm system, or at least as effective, are small home dogs. These, according to arrested criminals, are their biggest deterrent and might be worthwhile investing in as burglars and gangs monitor the response time of armed response companies and alarm systems, electric fences and CCTV are only a slight deterrent.
About R5,000 worth of goods are stolen in each case usually with minimal injury caused to home owners. A minor 35 percent steal for basic needs while others for money. A large 97 percent of burglars are armed with on average 4 members to each robbery.
Factoring in that a minute 7.67 percent of residential burglars are convicted in South African (compared to the 53 percent of the United States), you might need to take you own security precautions. Make sure your security equipment is in working order and that you are adequately covered for such an event. It can happen to anyone.