Yes, we’re heading towards the silly season. (Yay, finally!) But is this a good time to be silly with your home security? The answer is a resounding ‘no’.
Whether you plan to be vacationing or staycationing, here are some sobering stats:
- SAPS reports that break-ins at residential premises decreased by 7.4% year-on-year and robberies increased by only 0.2% year-on-year (April to June 2023/24), but are up by almost 1.3% from the preceding quarter. A break-in is unlawful access with criminal intent whereas robbery is direct interaction between criminals and people in houses, frequently involving intimidation or violence.
- According to the SAPS report, break-ins haveconsistently been the crime most experienced by households, with 5.9% of households reporting such incidents in 2023/24, followed by robbery and assault.
- King Price claims data shows that households in Eastern Cape and Limpopo experienced upticks in claims for break-ins and robberies between 2021 and 2024-to-date. Gauteng accounts for most of the burglaries across the SA, with 21.4% of incidents taking place in the province.
- Claims patterns for break-ins and robberies from 2021 to 2023 show a clear spike over the festive season, meaning that December is no time to be slacking off on your home security.
Here are our top tips for ensuring safety and security over the holiday period:
Boost your security: Even if you’re just popping out to do some shopping, always ensure that your doors and windows are securely locked, the alarm system and electric fence are on, and the gate is closed.
Look after your visitors: Try not to make your guests park in the street, or suggest that they leave their cars safely at home and rather use Uber, Bolt or king’s cab.
Safeguard the items being targeted: Solar panels, gas bottles and gate motors are the most-stolen items in 2024. Store gas bottles out of sight, and secure your panels and motors.
Be more neighbourly: Better communication between neighbours can improve security in your hood. If you’re heading out of town without a house-sitter, tell your security company and neighborhood watch, so that they can keep an eye out.
Make like you’re at home: Keep the TV and some lights on while you’re away, or use timers or smart devices to switch lights on and off at different times.
Be alert: Don’t let holiday excitement overtake common sense. Load your shopping into your car’s boot so that it can’t be seen, and take the packaging of expensive items, like TVs, elsewhere for recycling.
Don’t share too much: Ensure that your social media posts are set to ‘private’ while you’re away.
Check your insurance: Check that your cars, buildings and home contents are insured correctly, in case the worst happens, and remember to add high-value purchases to your policy, as they may not be covered automatically.
Before you head off, get a commitment-free quote from King Price. Just give us a call or pop us a WhatsApp: 0860 50 50 50. You could save money on your premiums and have more bucks to spend on getting festive.
Click here or WhatsApp us on 0860 50 50 50 for a commitment-free insurance quote.
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Psst… This blog provides general info only, and doesn’t count as financial or product advice from King Price or our legal and compliance experts. Remember, all our premiums are risk-profile-dependent, and T’s and C’s apply. Our most up-to-date KPPD (policy wording) can always be found here.
Our website T’s and C’s can be found here.
