Many people presume that they are "safe as houses"
living in apartment blocks, townhouse or cluster complexes, but, to
quote another adage, there is ?no such thing as a burglar-proof home".
According to Fabian Angiers, General Manager of Dial Direct
Insurance: "Communal living has definitely become commonplace in South
Africa. Just take a look around you, these days you can"t turn a corner without
seeing signs advertising a new apartment block, townhouse or cluster complex.
Prices for these properties come at a premium due to the allure of safety and
peace-of-mind, but we live in a country where crime is rife, and everyone is at
risk, no matter how high the surrounding wall." Angiers, continues: "Even though
living in such close proximity to others does have its benefits in terms of
safety, and all complexes are normally surrounded by electric fencing and have a
security guard or night watchman in place, there are no guarantees when it comes
to lock-up-and-go abodes."
Dial Direct Insurance offers the following guidelines
to ensure your safety in an apartment block, townhouse or cluster complex: For
starters, it is most important to make sure you get to know the security guards
who work in your complex, and any gardening staff or caretakers who may be
employed there. In addition, get to know your neighbours as being on good terms
with your immediate neighbours will be the beginning of an informal
neighbourhood watch. Remember that you are dependent on your co-residents when
it comes to security. In a townhouse complex, it is now too easy for tenants to
purchase duplicate copies of even the most advanced coded gate remotes. These
extra remotes can be handed to people that should not necessarily have access to
the complex. It is advisable to monitor who has access to your block or complex
and ensure that non-residents who are admitted to the complex are made to sign a
register. It may be an annoyance, but it is well worth doing. Ensure that the
electric fencing around the perimeter of your complex is live, and that someone
has the task of checking this on a daily basis. Also make sure that the electric
fencing is free from any foliage, which may prevent it from working effectively.
In an apartment block, it is imperative that the front doors to the building are
electronically controlled, again to ensure that not just anyone has access to
the building. Also, all opening windows should be barred, and security gates
should be fitted to doors that open onto the corridors, even in those apartments
that are several floors up from ground level. Angiers concludes: "Living in
communal blocks or complexes should mean that there are extra eyes looking out
for one another. Regrettably though, break-ins and theft do still take place. It
is important that one does not adopt a false sense of security when living
behind high walls and imposing gates - vigilance is key."
Read more about
Dial Direct Insurance
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