Latest House Robbery Trends

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) housebreaking or burglary has consistently been the most common crime experienced by households in South Africa. The number of households that experienced this crime in the five years preceding the survey has increased from 2,1 million in 2015/16 to 2,3 million in 2019/20.

With an estimated 1,2 million incidences of housebreaking in 2019/20, and affecting 891 000 households in South Africa, this represented 5,3% of all households in the country. While incidents of housebreaking peaked in June and December during the 2018/19 period, housebreaking peaked in June, September, and December in 2019/20.

“Home robbery” is regarded as a violent crime because people are at home when it takes place as compared to “housebreaking” (burglary), which occurs when the family is away from home. An estimated 169 000 incidences of home robberies occurred, affecting 139 000 households in 2019/20. The number of affected households represents 0,8% of all households in the country. About 55% of households that experienced home robbery reported it to the police. However, home robbery has constantly declined between 2015/16 (506 000) and 2019/20 (415 000).

The main causes that we have identified resulting in houses being more susceptible to house-breaking is as follows:

1. LOCATION

Granted this is something that is very difficult to control but it is one of the main factors when it comes to house burglaries. As an interesting fact, the Pinetown and Districts area has consistently had one of the highest housebreaking or burglary numbers in South Africa. Callouts to this area remain is the highest in the eThekwini region.

Solution:

The majority of houses that have had razor wire installed have been able to deal with petty theft and break-ins into their property. Besides the razor wire, one would have to consider other surrounding areas with lower statistics of break-ins.

2. Lack Of Communication

The next factor that contributes greatly to house break-ins is lack of communication amongst neighbors. When it comes to security all neighbors are connected. One weak point in a single house can mean that all the investment made in a beautiful high front wall and gate with electric fencing will have been in vain. Some houses that we have been called into were victims of break-ins via the neighbor's house and not their front perimeter.

Solution:

Form a neighborhood watch. Neighborhoods that have managed to come together and constantly update each other via Whatsapp or Telegram groups have a headstart. Targeted houses are quickly identified and neighbors are able to pull together to try and get a solution. Strange activity and vehicles are quickly identified and these can be highlighted to the whole neighborhood. Some neighborhoods have taken this even further and created their own gated communities in an effort to completely eliminate any sort of threat.

3. Poor Maintenance

Certain areas are exposed to open fields, abandoned areas and are close to Highways. This brings a unique threat because the maintenance of those areas is not the responsibility of the house owner. Although this is the case property owners that fail to address this allow their properties to be exposed to criminal elements. Some house owners have even found informal settlements springing up next door. The problem with this is that the new "neighbors" generally use the existing facilities unknowingly donated by the existing homeowners.

Solution:

If you are living next to an abandoned property you may have to look for the owner and inform them of the situation. If you have no luck locating the owner you will have to consider taking on the maintenance while waiting for the municipality to intervene. If you live next to a highway or open field you may also need to get your garden service or helper to trim the area closest to your property while also going to the municipality twice a week. The first visit is to notify them and the second visit is to complain if they are not there within three days after notifying them.

4. Lack Of Security Companies In The Area 

Whatever your perspective on security companies, they are useful when it comes to house burglaries. Even if they are not highly trained black belt ninjas with machine guns their presence and ability to alert the police when you are not at home is useful. Areas that don't have this benefit do tend to experience more burglaries than areas that do. The key to this though is that the security companies must be highly visible and intently patrolling.

Solution:

Try to get a registered security company to guard your neighborhood in addition to your neighborhood watch. Security companies try to monopolize neighborhoods but the greater the variety the better. Diversification is a good way to manage risk and it allows you to keep the companies accountable.

5. Lack Of Fencing

Unfortunately, due to the high crime rate in South Africa fencing is not a luxury but a necessity. Insurance companies will be sure to remind you of the risk that you are exposing yourself to by charging you higher premiums. If you have no fencing you expose your property and your family to a high amount of risk. Fencing is not foolproof but it does allow you to be proactive against the criminal elements that unfortunately exist in our nation.

Solution:

Get some fencing installed at your property. It doesn't have to be the latest and fanciest fencing but at least it should achieve the objective of keeping people out. Natal Razor and Wire has a variety of cost-effective solutions that are practical for your home. These solutions come from over 20 years of experience in the security industry.

If you have found this information useful please share it with a friend. If you need fencing for your property please visit our website at the following link: https://sites.google.com/view/razorwirefencing/home