Homeowners, beware: this festive season, there’s no rest for the wicked as home burglaries pick up steam.
While December is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, criminals aren’t letting up on their unsavoury activities as they target homes across South Africa.
In fact, as Trellidor CFO Damian Judge recently told BusinessTech, burglaries typically “increase by nearly 50%” during this period. And thieves tend to plunder homes for certain items…
BURGLARIES: WHAT COMMON ITEMS DO HOMEBREAKERS STEAL?
According to insurance and security experts, these are the five most sought-after, stealable items (from bottom to top) during the festive season:
5. SECURITY EQUIPMENT
What’s meant to keep our homes secure can actually be stolen, reports Fidelity ADT.
This year, there has been an uptick in security gate motors and outdoor detection beams being snatched. Motors can be resold or stripped for parts. As for beams, these are also resellable; what’s more, it makes it easier for opportunistic burglars to break into your home sooner or later.
4. ALCOHOL
Let’s be honest: you’ve been saving several well-aged bottles of wine for Christmas. Or you stocked up the liquor cabinet with some choice booze after receiving your year-end bonus.
Alcohol fetches a pretty penny, which is why burglars will raid your home for your spirits (thus ruining the Christmas kind in the process) and sell them off for profit.
3. POWER TOOLS
‘Tis the season to make lolly. As such, stealing and reselling power tools – drills, circular saws and grinders, for example – on the second-hand market will see burglars ho-ho-hoing all the way to the bank.
2. JEWELLERY
Jewellery is easy to carry, conceal and resell. Whether they’re wristwatches, rings, necklaces, bracelets or earrings, they have a higher monetary value due to their gold, platinum or precious stone content.
1. ELECTRONICS
Topping this list are electronics. Think smartphones, laptops, televisions and gaming consoles – these fetch high prices on the second-hand market. Plus, like jewellery, it’s easy for thieves to steal, carry and conceal.
There’s also a risk of their bypassing your devices’ security systems in order to access personal and financial data.
SAFEGUARD YOUR HOME
As you can see, these items are worth their weight in gold, frankincense and myrrh in the eyes of burglars.
Lock away your valuables when not in use and bolster your security system (and make sure it’s in working order). Make sure that your home insurance policies are updated; that way, if anything untoward should occur, at least you’ll have coverage.
Above all else, be vigilant – as mentioned before, criminals never rest, not even during the December holidays.
