The festive season can be notorious for being a risky time for crimes like burglaries and break-ins. It’s December and many people are planning to go away over the festive season to spend time with friends and family, increasing the opportunity for criminals to strike. Let’s protect our community scheme by using these five tips.

1. Complex protection

An electric fence is the first step to deter and delay opportunistic criminals from entering the community scheme.

Electric fences are usually fitted with alarms that warn of any breaches, allowing early detection. Ensure that the alarm is tested regularly, in working order and linked to an armed response service. Intruders often bypass electric fences by slipping through underneath them, so add an extra layer of perimeter security by putting spikes underneath the fence. Determined would-be intruders are known to test electric fences, so ensure that: the fence is adequately maintained and regularly check that the fence is armed.

2. Access control and visitor management

Access to the scheme needs to be monitored carefully to keep track of everyone who enters your community scheme. Opportunistic criminals would take advantage of any weak links that would allow them access. Ensure that all entrances and exits to the complex are always monitored.

3. Keep an eye on things

Cameras act as effective detection and deterrent measures in the security process. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance allows for the monitoring of activity in and around community schemes. Security cameras can be installed to observe common property areas to capture vandalism, theft and breaches of security and complex rules. Modern technology allows for facial and license plate recognition, making video surveillance a useful tool at entry and exit points. Ensure cameras are positioned: to cover the main entrances.

4. Keep your guard up

Even if your security guards are completely above board, criminals may exploit their patrolling routines to gain access, and flee the premises, unseen. Should your estate employ security guards, it may be a good idea to consider switching up the roles of the guards or adding extra guards over the festive period. It is strongly advised to make use of the services of a professional security company when getting security staff like guards. Security companies can take care of the following: background checks on security personnel, adherence to regulatory and statutory requirements, ensuring guards are adequately trained and qualified. Use community scheme WhatsApp groups to alert everyone in the scheme of any suspicious activity or persons.

5. Be prepared for power cuts

With load-shedding being such a big part of our lives, we can only hope that we surely have none this festive season. But it is best to be prepared. Power interruptions pose a major crime risk when affecting your security system or electric entrance gates. Ensure that your backup power for your security system is in good working order for all the following: access controlled gates, CCTV security cameras, outdoor lights on common property.

Let’s help our community scheme stay safe over this festive season.