Taking a weekend or extended break is often associated with leaving the rat race behind, putting your feet up and not having a care in the world.
Sadly, for many South Africans, leaving their homes for a peaceful getaway ends in tragedy and trauma because they return to find their house cleaned out or they fall victim to criminals at their holiday destination.
Charnel Hattingh, group head of marketing and communications for Fidelity ADT, says people who go to guesthouses and farms, lodges and chalets to ‘switch off’ is what criminals take advantage of.
“You must remain vigilant, no matter where you are,” she warns. In the rush to get out of town, do not neglect a thorough security check of your home before leaving.
“Do not leave anything to chance. Ensure your gate is properly closed and secured, doors are locked and windows closed. Preferably, get a reliable person to turn lights on and off, open and close curtains and take care of your pets, so that it looks like someone is home,” Hattingh says.
“The most important is to arm your alarm system and outdoor deterrents, like electric fencing and beams. If linked to an armed response security provider, they will alert you on your cellphone if anything happens at home.”
She reminds customers of private security companies they can request extra patrols for the period they are away; for added peace of mind.
When arriving at your holiday destination
Hattingh reiterates that no matter how safe the establishment promises the area and property are, guests should not be complacent.
“Holiday criminals often target accommodation spots because they know people are more relaxed and taken by surprise.”
She offers these five tips for staying safe at your destination:
1. Speak to the establishment beforehand about security. Look for reviews online. Do not only rely on what their website says. Getting word-of-mouth referrals is a good idea.
2. Take care of your valuables by locking them away in a safe or taking them with you when you leave your unit. Always lock up and close the windows.
3. If you are in a fairly remote area, preferably do not sit outside after dark. Bushveld fires are wonderfully relaxing, but you can be vulnerable.
4. Ask the manager about panic buttons and emergency contact numbers. Remember, an emergency is not necessarily only a criminal attack – there could be a fire in your unit or a medical emergency.
5. Have a plan of action in case your family gets held up on holiday. While it is difficult to stick to a script in such a traumatic event, it will help if everyone in the family, including young children, knows what to do and to remain calm.
“Holidays should be about making lasting memories. By staying vigilant and keeping security on top of mind – before you leave home and on holiday – you can ensure your holiday memories are lasting for the right reasons,” Hattingh concluded.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
