Festive season safety tips from CSS Tactical

The Festive Season is around the corner. With it being a time for celebration, relaxation and joy, it is also as notoriously an active period for criminals around Gauteng. Already within the past few days various reports have infiltrated related to stabbings, shootings and armed robberies around Johannesburg.

As much as we all would like to enjoy this well-deserved break, no-one can unfortunately let their guard down. Reasons for these recurring spikes in crime go back to criminals knowing that people are carrying large amounts of cash at times and purchasing expensive goods with it being bonus time and gift-purchasing time.

This is real and criminals will try to come at everyone hard and prepared, thus the point of this communication is relay some really useful tips to help ensure your alertness and vigilance assists us in keeping you and your family safe.

Below you will find some very helpful safety tips that we have compiled, as well as some extremely helpful information put together by one of the CPF/SAPS forums:

Christmas shopping
• If a robber grabs hold of a bag/moonbag/package you are carrying, do not resist. He would prefer to get hold of your goods and escape rather then be involved in a confrontation which could only lead to further harm to you.
• Do not wear and display expensive jewellery and watches out in public. You will leave yourself open to snatch & grabs, hold ups or possibly even being followed home by armed criminals.
• Do not push your shopping trolleys around with your handbag lying in it. Keep it attached to you with a strap, hanging as near to the front of you as possible in line of sight, especially by the check-out point.

Getting into your vehicle
• Before entering your vehicle, have a good look around you as well as looking inside your vehicle including the passenger side floor and back seat.
• Take notice of cars parked next to you, especially the vehicle parked directly next to your driver's door. if you happen to notice a man sitting alone in that vehicle, or even more than one suspicious looking men, rather walk back to the centre and request a guard follow you back to your vehicle and see you off safely.
• If a big van is parked next to you, either enter your vehicle from the passenger side or again get a guard to walk with you and see you safely in your vehicle. Many attackers use this type of modus operandi whereby they will surprise their victims by pulling them into their vans when the victim is about to enter their own vehicle.
• Some shoppers tend to spend additional time in their cars after having shopped at a particular centre making phone calls or making lists etc - please do not this! Would-be criminals could well be observing this and use this opportunity to jump in your passenger side of your vehicle and attack. When you have finished shopping it is strongly advised that you get into your car, lock your doors immediately and drive off.

Tips while driving/leaving shopping centres
• Continuously check your rear view mirror. If you feel that you are being followed, rather circle around the block. If the follower persists, drive straight to the nearest police station or call the CSS Tactical control room on 0861 911 119 if you are within a CSS protected area explaining your exact location and in which direction you are driving, indicating your vehicle description, for a vehicle to meet you within that area.
• Keep your doors locked and windows closed at intersections and avoid opening them for hawkers and beggars
• Keep your valuables out of sight at all times
• Beware of people asking for directions or other forms of assistance at the side of the road
• When arriving at your home ensure that there aren't any loiterers or vehicles parked near your entrance gate. If you do happen to notice this, circle the block until you feel satisfied it is safe to enter, or contact the CSS control room for one of your area vehicles to meet you outside your gate, and let the officers see you in safely. Once you are inside your property, close your gate immediately and watch your gate close and check that no-one slips through whilst it is closing.
• If you happen to park your car in the driveway or somehow exposed out of a garage it is advised that you remove your radio face if it's possible to do so, ensure that windows are closed, doors are locked and that the car alarm and immobiliser are activated.

If you are going on holiday
Statistics show that between this time of December and until the end of the year house break-ins increase, especially due to the fact that locals leave their homes to go on holiday. Criminals look for tell-tale signs which show them that you are away. Thus to prevent this, remember to:
• Stop you daily/weekly newspaper delivery services
• Request that a neighbour or friend clears your postbox
• Request a neighbour or friend or any other keyholders to keep an eye on your premises
• Request CSS are Tac officers to do checks on your property. If you do have a digipad in place, request that they check your internal perimeter every so often including your gardens and check that there are no broken windows are any other signs of forced entry
• Try and install a light timer switch and have it programmed to switch on certain selected inside and outside lights at certain times and intervals
• Give special thought to whom you leave your contact details whilst you are away

Additional recommended security measures to be taken as a CSS Tactical client

Test your panic buttons and other alarm signals with the CSS control room

Do not expose expensive items in public places like shopping centres. Various gangs like the infamous "Rolex gang" are highly operational during this period

Use the CSS Tactical meet & greet service as often as possible

Inform CSS Tactical of any temporary changes you would like made to your customer profile if you are going away

Ensure that you only give your CSS Tactical passwords to those you can trust if they are looking after your premises whilst you are away

Inform CSS Tactical of any parties or functions you may be throwing at your premises. Criminals see these functions as opportunities to attack and rob you and your guests. We do provide casual guarding services. It is also best that we are informed of these events in order to request that our vehicles in your area conduct regular patrols passed your premises.

CSS Tactical would like to take this opportunity in wishing you a very well-deserved, relaxing and safe festive period. Please take heed of the above tips and relay these to your friends and family so as to ensure we all enjoy a crime-free month ahead.