How to protect your home amidst a 12% rise in house burglaries

Over 1 million households in South Africa are affected by house break-ins every year. This shocking reality makes a strong case for homeowners to practice a high degree of vigilance when it comes to protecting their properties against crime.  

But vigilance isn’t only about understanding the risks involved with owning a home, being watchful, and identifying potential hazards. It’s also about taking practical, proactive steps to secure the things that matter most. Think locking your gate is enough? Think again – good home security starts outside.

Over just one year, an estimated 1.5 million incidents of house break-ins were reported to the South African Police Service, and according to Stats SA, this total represents a 12% increase in home burglaries between 2023 and 2024.

I suggest taking a ‘layered’ approach to safeguarding your home. Essentially, this means employing multiple security measures that begin with securing your perimeter, rather than just your house.

Homeowners who are already insured have the advantage of greater peace of mind, but adequate security measures are a factor in processing a claim successfully. For example, if you are insured with certain security in place, it needs to be in use at all times.

Camera footage to fight crime

One of the most effective ways of securing the perimeter of your home is to install security cameras. Some common pitfalls need to be avoided. For example, cameras need to be installed at the appropriate height to avoid any potential tampering or vandalism.

Depending on the location of your property and the surroundings, cameras will need to be installed in positions where they can capture pertinent details that may be useful to the police should an incident need to be investigated (number plates and facial recognition, for example).

Also, bear in mind that privacy laws need to be considered, so cameras need to be positioned in a way that doesn’t infringe on the privacy of your neighbours. For this reason, hiring a qualified surveillance installer to do the job is money well spent.

Get a doorbell – but make it smart

To avoid any potential incidents of violence that could follow someone opening a door to the wrong person, consider installing a smart doorbell.

A smart doorbell is a Wi-Fi-enabled device that lets you see, hear, and speak to visitors at your door through your smartphone or other connected devices. Most include HD cameras, motion sensors, and two-way audio, and some offer cloud recording or facial recognition.

The security benefits include real-time alerts when someone approaches your door, the ability to monitor and respond even when you're away, and a visible deterrent to potential intruders or package thieves.

Stay connected with your community

When we think about the best way of protecting our homes, we often forget that the best deterrent for crime is not always technology. Another way to do it is to get to know your neighbours and your community.

Many communities around the country use instant chat services like WhatsApp or Telegram to form groups that people can use to report crime or suspicious activity. If you build strong, trustworthy relationships with your neighbours, they could be your eyes and ears when you’re not home. Nurturing these symbiotic relationships where we can all look out for each other can make a big difference.

More proactivity could mean lower premiums

Apart from having enough proactive measures to protect your property so that you can enjoy peace of mind and a greater sense of security, installing additional safety and security devices could save you on your home insurance premium.

Insurance companies often reward homeowners who take risks seriously, because you’re not just deterring crime, you’re reducing the likelihood of claims. That lower risk profile can translate to meaningful discounts on your premiums, so it’s a smart investment that could pay off in more ways than one.

* Masiye is the spokesperson at Miway Insurance.

PERSONAL FINANCE