“The
time
to
think
about
the
security
of
your
home
and
business
premises
during
the
festive
period
is
now,”
Safeguard
Security
customer
services
manager
Lol
Ribeiro
said.
“We
recommend
that
businesses
and
householders
take
the
necessary
steps
now
to
secure
their
premises
and
the
property
inside
them,
especially
if
they
are
going
to
travel
during
the
holidays.
“Homes
and
offices
are
particularly
vulnerable
during
the
festive
season,
when
thieves
and
robbers
know
that
many
people
will
be
going
to
visit
family
or
friends
or
going
to
their
rural
homes
or
to
a
holiday
resort,”
he
said.
“Those
who
have
security
systems
in
place
should
ensure
the
measures
they
have
in
place
are
adequate
and
effective.
They
might
want
to
expand
or
improve
on
what
they
already
have
in
place.
Those
who
do
not
have
any
security
barriers
or
systems
should
seriously
consider
getting
them,”
Mr
Ribeiro
said.
Among
the
security
products
and
services
provided
by
Safeguard
are
security
guards,
electric
fences
and
other
security
barriers
such
as
burglar
bars
and
Xpanda
security
gates
for
external
or
internal
doors,
alarm
systems,
including
the
wireless
Ajax
system
that
can
be
operated
from
a
smart
phone,
closed
circuit
television
and
emergency
response.
“It
is
also
possible
to
rent
an
alarm
and
response
service,”
Mr
Ribeiro
said.
He
said
an
alarm
system
is
most
effective
when
linked
to
an
emergency
rapid
response
service.
CCTV
cameras
linked
to
the
alarm
system
and
rapid
response
service
further
enhanced
its
effectiveness
and
the
effectiveness
of
the
rapid
response
team.
This
should
be
considered
essential
for
commercial
premises,
he
said.
He
pointed
out
that
Safeguard
has
more
rapid
response
vehicles
deployed
than
any
other
service
provider
enabling
its
response
teams,
with
the
assistance
of
GPS
mapped
sites,
to
arrive
rapidly
at
sites
where
an
alarm
has
been
triggered.
He
said
it
was
advisable
for
those
who
wanted
to
hire
security
guards
just
for
the
holiday
period
or
have
an
alarm
system
or
any
other
security
product
installed
before
they
went
away
to
make
the
necessary
arrangements
in
good
time.
Those
who
already
have
alarm
systems
should
test
their
batteries
to
ensure
they
were
not
likely
to
fail
in
the
event
of
electricity
loadshedding
or
a
power
failure.
An
additional
back-up
battery
could
be
installed,
if
necessary.
The
alarm
system
should
be
tested
to
ensure
there
were
no
problems.
The
radio
link
to
the
rapid
response
service
should
also
be
tested.
“Safeguard
response
clients
can
use
the
Safeguard
app
to
test
both
the
alarm
system
and
the
signals
to
the
response
centre,”
Mr
Ribeiro
said.
Electric
fences
and
outdoor
beams
should
be
inspected
to
ensure
they
were
clean
and
clear
of
any
obstruction,
such
as
branches
or
leaves,
that
could
cause
them
to
malfunction.
“False
alarms
are
irritating
for
neighbours
and
divert
the
response
team
from
attending
to
real
emergencies,”
he
said.
Whether
going
away
for
an
extended
period
or
just
going
out
for
a
day
or
for
a
short
period
of
time,
it
was
important
to
activate
the
alarm
before
leaving
the
premises,
he
emphasised.
Mr
Ribeiro
said
Safeguard
rapid
response
customers
should
let
Safeguard
know
if
they
were
going
away
for
an
extended
period.
They
should
supply
the
response
centre
with
the
contact
details
of
anyone
they
have
left
to
look
after
their
home
and
information
about
anyone
authorised
to
stay
on
the
premises
while
they
are
away.
“You
can
also
request
a
Safeguard
team
to
visit
your
premises
while
you
are
away
just
to
make
sure
everything
is
alright,”
he
said.
If
there
is
anyone
staying
on
the
premises,
it
is
important
that
he
or
she
has
a
mobile
panic
button
for
use
if
intruders
are
detected
or
suspected
on
the
premises,
he
pointed
out.
He
added
that
Safeguard
response
clients
who
are
going
away
on
holiday
within
Zimbabwe
should
ensure
they
have
the
Safeguard
app
downloaded
on
their
phone.
“The
Safeguard
app
includes
a
panic
button
that
enables
you
to
alert
Safeguard
in
any
security
emergency
wherever
you
may
be
within
Zimbabwe,
as
long
as
you
have
an
internet
connection.
“It
also
has
buttons
that
can
be
pressed
in
a
medical
emergency
or
if
roadside
assistance
is
required
in
the
case
of
a
breakdown,”
he
said.
“Try
not
to
let
people
in
the
neighbourhood
know
you
are
going
away.
Ensure
there
are
no
valuables
in
easy
sight
of
anyone
who
might
look
into
your
house.
Do
not
keep
large
amounts
of
cash
in
the
house,
as
cash
is
one
of
the
major
targets
of
robbers
today.
“Wherever
you
are
going,
be
security
conscious.
Take
note
of
those
around
you.
Do
not
leave
your
cellphone
or
handbag
unattended
or
where
it
could
easily
be
grabbed.
Put
any
valuables
in
the
boot
of
your
car
rather
than
on
the
seat,
where
they
can
be
seen
by
passers-by.
“Christmas
time
is
a
time
of
joy
and
celebration.
Ensuring
you
have
effective
security
measures
in
place
at
home
or
at
work
and
when
you
travel,
should
ensure
you
are
able
to
enjoy
the
festive
season
without
having
it
spoilt
by
the
loss
of
money
or
goods
as
a
result
of
break-ins
or
thefts,”
Mr
Ribeiro
said.
Post
published
in:
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