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Old August 27th, 2013 #1
Hugh
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Default Hijackings and home robberies

http://www.unisa.ac.za/contents/docs/zinn.pdf

Place where hijacking occurred
Driveway of a house - 22%
T- Junction - 11%
Traffic light, Stop street, 4-way stop, Taxi rank, In front of a take away business, Parked in the street (driver still in the vehicle), Shopping complex - 52%

Driveway of business premises, Main road between towns (not the highway), Highway, Overnight truck port - 11%

The second highest frequency, which is also the single highest place where hijackings occur,
is the driveway of a house. Twenty two percent of motor vehicle hijackings occur here. The
driveways of a house or a business also lend themselves to hijackings





http://www.issafrica.org/uploads/CQ32Zinn.pdf
Understanding and Preventing Home Invasion in South Africa
http://www.ckn.org.za/Files/Home-Invasion-Study.pdf

The Profile of Residential Robbery Perpetrators
The 30 research subjects interviewed conformed to the following broad profile:

The subjects were between the ages of 19 and 26 years old.
On average they would form a group of four people when attacking a household.

All were experienced criminals and had committed a number of other crimes before deciding to target households for robbery.

On average, each perpetrator admitted to having committed 103 crimes (including crimes other than robberies) over a seven-year period before being arrested for the first time.

Given the nature of the crime, a distinctive characteristic of house robbers is the
willingness to use lethal violence against victims.


5. Choosing a Target
77% of the perpetrators stated that they chose targets for which they had some ‘inside information.’ For example, they would be able to get inform ation about a particular house from domestic workers, gardeners or other service providers including security guards (or from the relatives or acquaintances of these people).
A majority of the perpetrators (57%) stated that they preferred to carry out residential
robberies between 19h00 and 24h00 in the evening. This was when most people are
at home, have disabled alarm systems and opened doors and windows. Also it is a
time when there is noise from televisions and radios, which will provide the
perpetrators with some level of cover to allow them to take the victims by surprise.

14% of the perpetrators also attacked houses between 03h00 and 07h00 in the
morning as it was quiet, the neighbours would be asleep or not paying particular
attention and visitors to the house would not disturb them.

7% stated that they also attacked houses between 10h00 and 12h00 in the mid-to late
mornings. This was when domestic workers would be in the house, doors would be
open, alarms would also be turned off and there would be the relative cover of noise.

The most common way to access a property was to ‘break-in’ by forcing locks on
gates or doors, breaking windows or disabling electric fences and climbing over the
walls.

Perpetrators in this study would spend anywhere between 30 minutes and
four hours inside a house once they had successfully subdued the residents.


7. The Use of Violence in Robberies

All perpetrators stated that they used violence or the threat of violence when entering
a residence to overcome resistance from the victims.

To assist in this, 97% of the perpetrators in this study used firearms when they
committed robberies.

They preferred pistols, as these were easy to conceal before and after the robbery. In
addition the perpetrators liked pistols because of the sound the weapon made when
‘cocking’ it as this could also be used to intimidate victims.

During the residential robbery, 67% of the perpetrators admitted committing assault,
30% admitted to committing murder, 13% admitted to committing rape and 13%
admitted to torturing victims during a residential robbery.

(Please note, this does not mean that people are murdered in 30% of residential robberies. Only that 30% of this sample admitted to having committed at least one murder in their lifetime.

According to these perpetrators, the use of torture was to force
the victims to reveal the whereabouts of valuables in the house such as cash, firearms or jewellery.

The torture most frequently mentioned consists of pouring boiling water or melted
plastic on the victims or burning them with household instruments (e.g. an iron).

The perpetrators in the study stated that they would most likely target women or
children for torture during a robbery to force the male or adult to provide the
information they required.




Preventing or Minimising the Risk of Residential Robberies

The research found that community crime prevention initiatives could make a difference
in reducing the risk of a certain area becoming targeted by perpetrators of house
robberies. For example regular neighbourhood watch schemes, random community
patrol initiatives, or guards stationed at street corners who are linked by radio
communication will make a certain community less attractive to criminals. For example,
the police precinct of Garsfontein recorded a decrease of 36.5% in residential robberies
during the 2007/08 financial year following community based crime prevention
initiatives. This was at a time when residential robberies were increasing substantially
across the country.
The research also sought to identify measures that could be taken by people to minimise
the risk of their particular residence becoming a target. The perpetrators were asked about
the things that would make them hesitate to target a house or that would make it difficult
for them to access a house.
They generally answered that if the reward was big enough nothing could keep them from attacking a house.
Nevertheless, there were factors that would make their lives difficult and could hamper their
attack on a house.
Out of 119 different answers that were given, the most frequently mentioned preventative
measures in order of effectiveness were stated as follows:

The presence of a number of small dogs inside the house that will bark when they
become aware of suspicious activity outside. Teach any dogs not to take food from
strangers, as perpetrators will not hesitate to poison a dog to neutralise it as a threat.

Razor wire or electric security fences around the entire perimeter of the house.
Beware of an electric fence alarm repeatedly going off as this could be caused
by perpetrators deliberately causing a short-circuit to the fence in order to get
the residents to turn the fence off.

Pre-warning alarm systems such as security alarm sensors in the garden, along the
outside walls, on the roof and in the ceiling. Alarm systems in garages or storerooms
will make perpetrators lives difficult, as they generally do not carry housebreaking
tools with them. They usually break into a garage or tool shed first to get what they
need to force the locks or break the windows of a house.

An armed response service.

There is an ‘open view’ into the house or garden from the street or a neighbouring
property. This means that the perpetrator could be seen by a neighbour or a person in
the street.
6

Security lights that make it difficult to move around the outside of the house at night
without being seen, especially sensor lights in front of bedrooms.

CCTV systems and an intercom system for speaking to people who are outside
of the property.

Layers of security as opposed to a single security system.

Strong doors and security gates with good quality locks.

Door alarms that are activated when residents are at home.

Curtains are drawn at night which prevent perpetrators from identifying the
movement and location of the residents in the house.

The existence of a “secure room” within the house where residents are able to
escape to once they are aware of an attack.

Panic buttons should be placed where residents are most likely to need them. Apart
from doorways, these devices should be kept in places where residents will be able to
access them in places where they are likely to be held during the robbery. For
instance in the lounge under chairs or tables, under beds in bedrooms,
in bathrooms as people are often locked in bathrooms and bedrooms during a robbery.

Always check for signs of a forced entry when entering or leaving your home.

Keep a copy of the ID Book of any employees who have access to or work at the
house including names and contact details of their relatives.


In analysing the responses, the researcher found that out of all the
measures that would hinder a house robber, 68% of them refer to securing the outer-perimeter of house and garden while 32% refer to internal security systems.

This is because once the perpetrators have managed to get close to the house, the advantage they have in term s of the element of surprise leaves the residents with fewer defensive options. How
ever, if the residents are alerted to a person jumping over their wall, they will have time to lock doors and raise the alarm








http://www.safeguardtheworld.com/statistics.html


Security Statistics
Here are some home security statistics that may shock you… And hopefully motivate you to take action

2,000,000 home burglaries are reported each year in the United States.
About 30 percent of all burglaries are through an open or unlocked window or door.
Nearly 66 percent of all burglaries are residential (home) break-ins.
Renters are just as likely to be the victims of property crime as homeowners.
The highest percentage of burglaries occur during the summer months.
Homes without security systems are up to 300% more likely to be broken into.

Police offer tips to prevent home break-Ins
Background - Home Break-Ins

According to the FBI, Home Break-In (Burglary) is the most common threat to our home.
In the U.S. a home burglary occurs every 13 seconds.

Burglary Facts

Every 13 seconds a home intrusion is committed.
2.5 million+ home intrusions are committed each year.
Only 17% of the homes in U.S. have a security system.
2,500+ cars stolen per day… almost 2 cars a minute.
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the U.S.
1 out of 3 residential assaults are a result of a burglary.
85% of break-ins are from non-professionals that are usually more desperate and dangerous.
People want security and need peace of mind.
Insurance agencies can offer discounts up to 20% for auto insurance when a home security system is installed.
Home security statistics tell us that 95% of break-ins needed some amount of force to break-in.
Thieves prefer easy access, through an unlocked doors or windows.
Home security statistics tell us that the type of tools used to break in are usually simple; a screwdriver, pliers, pries bars, and small hammers are most common.
Police usually only clear 13% of all reported burglaries due to lack of witnesses or physical evidence.

Who commits these crimes and why?
Perpetrators are usually male, under 25 years of age.

They are looking for items that are small and expensive and easily converted to cash.
Favorite items include: cash, jewelry, laptops, guns, digital cameras, small electronics (Ipods, GPS, PDA’s MP-3’s and CD’s)
Money is usually used to support a drug habit.

When do most break-in occur?

Usually occur in the daytime when occupants are at school or work.
July and August most the frequent months for break-ins.
February is the least frequent for home breaks.

How are homes targeted?

Simple selection process
Choose an unoccupied home with easy access, the greatest amount of cover and the best escape routes.
Homeowners often make this selection process easy for thieves by failing to take simple precautions.

What can you do to prevent becoming a victim?

Harden the Target.
Home security statistics tell us that burglars will usually bypass a house if it requires too much effort or more skills or tools than they possess.
Most breaks are through front or back doors.
Unlocked outer doors to common hallways give thieves a chance to break in through inner doors while remaining out of sight of neighbors and police. Keep outside doors locked

Doors and Locks

Use a solid core or metal door at entrance points.
Use a heavy-duty deadbolt with a one inch throw bolt.
Use a quality knob-in-lock set with dead latch mechanism.
Use a heavy duty strike plate with 3 inch screws into the frame.
Use a wide angle peephole.
When you move into a new house or apartment, change the door locks.

Breaks through doors

Most common method of forced entry is simply to kick in the door.
The weakest point is usually the lock strike plate.
You should upgrade to a heavy-duty strike plate.

Sliding Glass Doors

This type of door is usually secured by latches only.
They are vulnerable to attack.
Security can be increased by inserting a wooden dowel or stick into the door track to prevent movement.
There are also metal track blockers / locks available.

Windows (the most frequent point of entry during warm weather months)

Windows are left unlocked at a much higher rate than doors.
An open window that is visible from the street may be the sole reason that a house is targeted. An open window with only a locked window screen is particularly inviting to thieves. Access is quick, easy and silent.
Windows have latches, not locks; they should have secondary locking devices.
Wooden sticks/dowels work well with horizontal sliding windows.

Windows

For vertical windows, through the frame pins work well.
For ventilation, leave no more than a 4 – 6 inch window opening.
Make sure that opening is not large enough to allow someone to reach through to unlock the door or remove window lock.

Be A Good Neighbor

Get to know your neighbors.
Agree to watch each other’s home.
While on vacation, pick up mail, newspapers, packages and flyers; put out their trash on trash day (and return empty barrels).
Offer to park your car in their driveway and listen for a siren from their home security system.
Water flowers, grass and plants.
Communicate with each other.

Home Security Lighting

Interior lighting is necessary to show signs of activity inside.
Use timers (lights, radios and televisions). Make the home appears occupied.
Exterior lighting is very important.
Lights in front of the home should be on a timer.
If you are not an owner of one of Safeguard Security's Reactor home security systems, use timers or motion sensors for other exterior lighting, especially at the rear of the house.

Home Alarm Systems

Increase the potential of burglar being caught.
Burglars will usually bypass a home that they believe has a sophisticated burglar alarm.
Home security statistics tell us that an audible horn or siren must be part of the system.
Alarm systems should reset within three minutes so as not to disturb the neighborhood.
Leave a key to your house and alarm system with a trusted neighbor who is usually there when you are not home.
Alarm systems can also monitor fire sensors and panic buttons.

Operation Identification

Engrave your driver’s license number (and state) on televisions, stereos, computers and small electronic appliances.
Photograph your valuables, especially jewelry and electronics.
Make a list of make, model, serial numbers and value of important items.
Give a copy of this list to a relative or close friend.

What if you see something of someone acting suspicious?

If you see anyone acting suspicious around your house or a neighbor’s house, call 911 immediately.
If your house is broken into, call police immediately. Don’t touch anything that the criminal may have touched.
Wait outside for police to arrive.
Write down plate numbers of suspicious vehicles.
Not all break-ins will be stopped, regardless of the precautions that you take. Talk to your insurance agent to make sure that your valuables will be covered in the event of a theft.
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Old August 29th, 2013 #2
Bev
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Quote:
The presence of a number of small dogs inside the house that will bark when they
become aware of suspicious activity outside. Teach any dogs not to take food from
strangers, as perpetrators will not hesitate to poison a dog to neutralise it as a threat.
Sound advice.
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Above post is my opinion unless it's a quote.
 
Old September 18th, 2013 #3
Crowe
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If they know you're home and they know you're the only person home, its highly likely they might use a tactic to bait you out of the house, and then they're gonna hold you by gunpoint and tie you up somewhere.

The ones hijacked in their driveway sorta goes along with that. Suppose someone pulls up in your driveway, an unfamiliar vehicle, and you go out to see who it is? If you're going to approach them then do it with a 12 gauge shotgun.
 
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