HOME INVASIONS (HOUSE BURGLARY)
One of the most feared crimes in South Africa is violent home invasions with the intent to rob and harm the occupants.
In many instances occupants are seriously hurt or even murdered.
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A parameter fence that is intruder deterrent
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A motorised gate with anti-lift to control entrance to your premises
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A locked pedestrian gate
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Perimeter lighting
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Avoid overgrown shrubbery around windows
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All outside building and home doors made of solid wood core with a deadbolt lock
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Intruder deterrent security doors and burglar bars
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A home alarm system with “stay” and “away “ zones
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Window and door sensors linked to the alarm system
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In and outside motion detectors
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Armed Response
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CCTV Cameras
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Guard dogs
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Isolate sleeping area from rest of house by fitting an intruder deterrent safety gate
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Invest in a safe room that is properly secured to prevent access from the door, windows and the ceiling. (Always ensure that the burglar
bars have an escape door fitted and that the key is kept in the safe room)
Download SQAS-SA Residential
Risk Assessment Document
Download Safety Awareness
at Home (Source S.A. Police)
Developed by SQAS-SA
A study by Professor Zinn* makes interesting and useful reading in terms of the way South African criminals set about planning and
executing a domestic burglary. Prof. Zinn interviewed 30 convicted and incarcerated criminals with a series of 116 structured and open
ended questions in the hope that the information could be used by both the police and home owners in the prevention of crime. It’s
suggested that these findings are viewed as insights into criminal behavior but that the individual homeowner then applies the findings
to their own special circumstances.
UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING HOUSE BURGLARY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Profile of a House Robber and what Motivates them
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Almost all are male aged between 19 and 26 operating in groups of 4.
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They are experienced criminals and have worked their way up to house breaking.
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70% are from so called broken homes or dysfunctional families.
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All are willing to use violence.
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The main motivation is economic gain with 65% being spent on cars, clothes, drugs and alcohol.
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Victims are targeted because of their apparent wealth.
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Race plays no part in the targeting.
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Often a local ‘role model’ i.e. a known criminal whose lifestyle is improved by crime can be an influence.
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Housebreaking is chosen over other types of crime because there’s more money, more quickly and little chance of getting caught.
Choosing a Target
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63% of the perpetrators prefer to travel between 10 and 30 minutes by vehicle from the home base, but will travel further if the
potential rewards are high.
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Alarmingly 77% stated they chose targets based on inside information. There also appears to be a sub-set of criminal who
specialise in obtaining and selling information extracted from domestic workers, service providers and so on.
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Targets with multiple entry and exit points are preferred as well as easy access to main roads.
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75% of perpetrators said they targeted homes based on good information or at least the suspicion of a high value steal, rather
than targeting based on low security.
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Sometimes people with expensive jewelery or clothes would be followed home.
Planning and Execution
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All the perpetrators said they would spend sometime doing surveillance. This was usually as little as 30 minutes immediately
before the attack.
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57% preferred to attack between 7pm and 12pm when residents were at home, with alarms disabled and noise from TVs and
radios to give a level of cover and a good chance of a surprise attack.
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The most common way in, is to “break in” by forcing locks, doors, disabling electric fences and so on. Author’s** note: this implies
that an alert resident will hear or sense the attack commence.
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Before the attack perpetrators try to identify the number and locations of all the residents to assist with a surprise attack. This is
done through peering through windows, usually under the cover of darkness.
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Once inside the attack is likely to last anywhere between 30 minutes and 4 hours.
Violence
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All the perpetrators are prepared to use violence or at least the threat of violence.
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97% carry guns and pistols are preferred due their concealability and sound the weapon makes when the weapon is cocked. As an
aside, the author can attest to the effect the sound of a cocked slide on a 9mm has on ones attention.
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Torture is used to extract information. Usually women and children are tortured to force the male or adult to reveal the location of
valuables.
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Boiling water, melted plastic or burning with irons and so on was mentioned most.
Prevention
Reducing your Personal Risk
If a breakthrough of the outer perimeter defence is achieved, the first phase of the attack is the most dangerous when
adrenalin is high and sudden acts of violence are more likely.
To minimise the risk it was suggested, residents should:
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Not move when seeing a stranger with a gun.
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Then make no sudden movements or noise, which could be construed as an act of defense.
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Remain calm.
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Keep hands visible, but not above your head as this could signal an attempt to raise an alarm.
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Demonstrate a willingness to cooperate.
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In conclusion, and following the study of 1000 police dockets, Professor Zinn was able to report that:
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Only 2% of robberies ended in murder.
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4% in rape.
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9% in attempted murder.
Page Content
with
compliments
from Steve
Pearce - MD
Locklatch
