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Driveway gates are one of the most vulnerable areas for gaining entry to your property.

Gate rail: The rail is the long metal strip with geared grooves cut into it. If criminals can, they will use heavy-duty tools to break the rail off the gate to slide open the gate. Ask Beagle Watch about ways to secure your gate rail.

Gate derailment: This is when criminals lift the gate off its track. This can be prevented by installing anti-theft brackets.

Gate motor: Ensure your gate motor is well away from the wall and is secured by anti-theft brackets.

Early-warning is vital: To this end, the Beagle Watch Gate Guardian is a very cost-effective early-warning system that will detect any gate or gate motor tampering. It is quick and easy to install and a highly effective additional security layer.

#1. Please ensure that you know where your children are at all times

 

•    Drop-off and collection times at schools are a time when criminals can potentially strike − especially when children are waiting outside the gates for someone to collect them, or when they are not aware of their surroundings and often busy on their mobile phones. 

•    When dropping and collecting children at school, please take the time and trouble to walk with them − right to the school gate.

•    Please do not be tempted to merely drop them off and let them walk to the gate alone, as things can go wrong in a flash. 

#2. Teach children about being stranger savvy  

•    Brief children to never go with anyone unless this has been expressly arranged with you, as the parent or the guardian.

•    Kindly inform the school accordingly. 

#3. Is your home safe?

 

•    If you are not at home, who is looking after your children?

•    Has your helper or nanny been properly vetted and trained?

•    Are there sufficient safety measures in and around the home to ensure that children cannot wander out unattended?

•    Is the pool enclosed and safely covered under a security net fitted with an alarm? 

•    Do you have a good quality CCTV system in and around the home so that you can keep an eye on your loved ones? 

•    Have you activated the "find my phone" function on your childrens' phones, if they have phones? 

•    Have you discussed an emergency plan of action with the nanny, children and other members of the family? 

•    Invest in smoke detectors that are monitored. Beagle Watch has recently launched an excellent and very cost-effective fire kit solution that includes smoke detectors that are monitored around the clock by our Call Centre and professionally installed and maintained. 
•    Test and maintain smoke detectors, back-up batteries, and fire extinguishers regularly.
•    Subscribe to a private fire-fighting organisation to ensure quick response in the case of a fire-related emergency.
•    All Beagle Watch clients enjoy this additional peace of mind benefit with FIRE OPS SA as part of their monthly subscription.

•    Take extra precautions to ensure driveway gates are secure, and keep garage doors and vehicles locked at all times.
•    Add additional safety measures to ensure gates cannot be derailed or forced open.
•    Do not leave gates on manual during power outages. 
•    Keep garage doors closed and locked at all times, as well as any doors leading to the garage.

•   Lock the vehicle to activate the alarm.

•    Check that home security systems and electric fencing are in working order, activated, and linked to our Call Centre.

•    Keep vehicles in a locked garage, if possible, or park them out of sight. 

•    An alarm battery should last one to two years and needs approximately 24 hours to charge fully.
•    With power cuts and load shedding, batteries start to run low (or flat) and do not have sufficient time to recharge fully before the next power cut.
•    This leads to battery cells dying and the battery lasts for shorter and shorter periods, leaving you more and more vulnerable at the times you most need protection.
•    An alarm battery should last at least three to four hours. If it does not, it is time for a replacement.
•    To ensure your safety, Beagle Watch offers replacement batteries at cost for clients and non-clients. Phone our Call Centre or email orders@beaglewatch.co.za.

“In several parts of our footprint, electric fences continue to be the target of opportunistic criminal activity, with a number of clients' fences cut to gain access to properties,” says André Aiton, Managing Director of Beagle Watch.

 

Especially during rainy or wet conditions, suspects tend to repeatedly “test” fences, to see if they are activated, resulting in alarm signals. “Clients assume the repeated signals are weather-related and then simply turn off the fence, opening the way for possible intrusion.”

 

“Should you receive repeated alarm or electric fence activations − or become aware of your  (or neighbourhood dogs) barking incessantly − please contact our Call Centre so that our Response Officers can inspect your premises,” is Aiton’s advice.

•    Keep vehicles locked at all times.
•    Park vehicles in a locked garage at night, and lock the vehicle to activate the alarm.
•    If vehicles are parked inside the premises, try to keep them out of sight from the street.
•    Owners of SUVs and Bakkies should consider investing in wheel lock nuts as a preventative measure..
•    Check that your home security systems, such as beams and electric fencing are in working order and activated.