Create the habit the habit of regularly testing your safety and security systems:

• Test your alarm system and electric fence once a month.
• Test fixed and mobile panic buttons once a month.
• If you have a sensor-operated alarm, go from room to room once a month and ensure that movement registers throughout your house. Walk around each room to check that the red light is visible on the sensor.
• Regularly check the batteries in your alarm system, wireless beams and CCTV. Batteries have a limited life span and need to be replaced every few years.
• Check that your cameras are positioned correctly and clean the lenses to ensure good, clear footage.

Remember to check your security system:

• After any scheduled maintenance workers visit your home. No matter what they’re working on, it’s best practice to ensure they haven’t interfered with your security accidentally.

• After you’ve had a house sitter, babysitter or pet sitter in your home. They may have made changes to your system, such as disabling alarms for their own easy access.

• After any significant changes are made to your internet connectivity or provider. If your security system uses the Internet, those changes could affect the responsiveness of your system.

• When renovations are completed, whether it’s inside or outside – you may have accidentally altered something, like camera angles.

24/7 Security Services – info@24-7security.co.za / 011 444 2237

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Festive Season shopping should be happy and carefree events. Don’t let criminals steal your joy this shopping season.

Safety At The Mall

• Be aware of your surroundings – this is one of your greatest weapons as distraction is your biggest enemy.
• Park in well-lit areas and as close to the entrance door as possible.
• Do not sit in your car checking messages, as you are vulnerable and distracted.
• Never leave valuables in plain sight in your car, put them in the boot.
• Manually check that your car doors are locked, remote car-jamming is a common threat. Even if your car makes a locking sound, double check every time.
• Keep your cash in your wallet to the minimum and don’t let people see how much cash you are carrying.
• Keep your mobile phone and wallet out of sight.
• Keep the zip of your handbag closed.
• Carry your keys in your hand ready to unlock the car when you go into the parking area.

Online Shopping Safety Tip

• Look for the lock: Only transact on secure websites. Look for the lock image on the toolbar, valid certificates such as VeriSign and secure payment systems such as PayU. When you get to the page where you enter your credit card or other personal information, look for an ‘s’ after ‘http://’ in the web address of that page – it should read: ‘https://’.
• Do your online shopping in safe places: Don’t do your shopping in coffee shops and malls. With public Wi-Fi, there’s a bigger chance for fraudsters to intercept your connection and get hold of your usernames and passwords.
• Watch out for strange emails and links: Fraudsters are quite good at mimicking known websites, which enables them to easily create emails with fraudulent links in them that look legitimate.
• Use strong passwords: Don’t create a password that is easy to guess or hack. Use an 8-digit password combination of upper-case letters, symbols and numbers.
  Use two-factor authentication methods: In the world of online shopping and banking, the OTP (one-time PIN) is a must-have.

24/7 Security Services – info@24-7security.co.za / 011 444 2237

Alarm Batteries
Make sure all batteries are charged and working. An alarms’ backup battery will power the system for eight hours on average. However, this is dependent on several factors such as how many devices are linked to the panel, the age of the battery and how many power failures or power spikes are experienced in the area. Power outages can dramatically reduce the lifespan of the alarm battery.

Electric Fence
Ensure that your electric fence continues to function during power outages. Your electric fence battery should have a backup battery.

Generators
If you are using a generator, never operate it anywhere inside your home, including the garage or any confined area, as it produces carbon monoxide which can be fatal.

Arriving/Leaving Home
Ensure that you are especially alert when arriving or leaving your home in the evenings, as the street lights and your outside lighting may not be functioning during power outages. Keep a torch in your car.

At Home

• Ensure that all automated gates and doors are secured and that all other gates and doors are locked.
• With candles, gas and other lighting devices being used more often, these can result in an increased fire hazard.
  Therefore, home fire extinguishers should be on hand.
• Install battery operated lights in strategic places in your home.
• Keep the keys to motorised gates in an accessible location and have good quality padlocks available to use as a backup.
• Programme your security provider number in your cell phone in case of emergency.
• Keep your cell phone fully charged.

The 24/7 Command Centre is very busy during power outage periods, and we request clients to be patient – emergency calls will be prioritised.

24/7 Security Services – info@24-7security.co.za / 011 444 2237

• Always keep a close eye on your children. Don’t let them wander off on their own or be without the supervision of a responsible adult.
• Never leave children in the care of an adult you don’t trust.
• Don’t leave children under the supervision of other children.
• Never leave children alone in a car.
• When travelling by car make sure that babies or young children are buckled up or in a car seat, and drive responsibly.
• Learn first aid or at least learn CPR. It could save a life.
• Child-proof your home or the place you are staying by making sure that all dangerous substances and items are out of reach. Make sure that all electrical wiring is safe and swimming pools are sealed off with an SABS-approved safety fence or safety net, preferably both. Keep all alcohol out of the reach of children.
• Talk to your children before a family outing. Make a rule that you must always be able to see them, and they must always be able to see you. It may sound simple, but keep reminding them periodically, especially if you think they’re getting restless. Use the “two giant steps” rule – your children should never be more than two giant steps away from you. It’s a fun and uncomplicated way for young children to remember not to wander away.
• Teach your children that if they ever become separated from you, they should look for a “safe stranger” for help. Some examples include a mom with kids or a cash register person. With older children, agree on a “meeting place” ahead of time, in case you become separated. Make sure that your children know your cell phone number.
• Teach your children never to leave the mall or store to go looking for you, no matter what anyone tells them. Remind your child that you would never leave until you are reunited.
• Establish the “check first” rule with older children. They must always check first with you before going anywhere in a public place, including another store, play area, or even the restroom.
• Don’t treat public facilities as a “convenient babysitter.” Do not leave your children alone at movie theatres, play areas, or other public places. Predators are known to look for unsupervised kids.
• Always bring young children into the restroom with you. Look for well-lit restrooms in high traffic areas, whenever possible.
• If older children go to the mall, teach them to always stay in groups. If a stranger tries to get them to leave, they must scream and make the people around them aware of what is happening.

24/7 Security Services – info@24-7security.co.za / 011 444 2237

At the ATM:

• Be alert and conscious of your surroundings when using the ATM.
• Never give your card or PIN (Personal Identification Number) to anyone, for any reason.
• Don’t write your PIN on the card or anything that is kept with the card.
• Do not insert your card until asked to do so by the display screen.
• Never use an ATM with a blank screen and, if the ATM is obscured from view or poorly lit, leave immediately and find another ATM.
• Stand close to the ATM and use your body and hand as shield to make sure nobody sees you keying in your pin.
• Also, make sure you keep your hand over the card slot to make sure nobody can swop or take your card.
• Never accept help from strangers when using an ATM. You should be wary of strangers asking for help.
• Criminals work in teams- one to distract you while the other steals your card or money.
• If your card is retained (swallowed) by the ATM it is advisable to phone your bank toll free stop card line immediately and stop your card.
• Never allow a bystander to call the toll-free stop card line on your behalf- they could be tricking you into thinking your card has been stopped.
• Guards are placed at ATMs to discourage criminal activities and therefore cannot help you with transactions.
• If you need help, ask a bank official.
• It is advisable to set a daily ATM withdrawal limit at your branch.

Carrying cash (Individuals)
If you need to pay accounts, consider options that are lower risk instead of withdrawing large sums of cash. Apply the following tips to avoid being a victim:

• Carry as little cash as possible.
• Consider the convenience of paying your accounts electronically. Cconsult your bank to find out about other available options.
• Consider making use of cell phone banking or internet transfers or ATMs to do your banking.

Carrying cash (Businesses)
A small business which is cash based and needs to deposit money on a regular basis at the bank should apply the following tips which will minimize the chances of you being a victim of robberies:

• Alternate the days and times on which you deposit cash.
• Never make your bank visits public, even to people close to you.
• Do not openly display the money you are depositing while you are standing in the bank queue.
• Avoid carrying money bags, briefcases or openly displaying your deposit receipt book.
• It’s advisable to identify another branch nearby that you can visit to ensure that your banking pattern is not easily recognisable or detected.
• If the amount of cash you are regularly depositing is increasing as your business grows, consider using the services of a cash management company.
• Refrain from giving wages to your contract or casual labourers in full view of the public rather make use of wage accounts that can be provided by your bank.
• Refrain from driving to the bank in your company branded vehicle on a typical pay day.
• Consider arranging for electronic transfers of wages to your contract or casual labourers’ personal bank accounts.

Carrying cash (Saving clubs and stokvels)
If you are a member of a cash savings club, advise members of your club of the following tips that will assist your club from being victim to cash robberies:

• Refrain from making cash deposits of club members’ contributions on high risk days, e.g. Monday after month end.
• Ensure persons depositing club cash contributions or making withdrawals are accompanied by another club member.
• A stokvel, savings club or burial society can arrange for members to deposit cash directly into the club’s account instead of collecting cash contributions.
• Arrange for the club’s pay-out to be electronically transferred into each club member’s personal account or accounts of their choice.

24/7 Security Services – info@24-7security.co.za / 011 444 2237