It seems that a lot of the crime has moved not in area, but in time. Instead of hitting homes when the owner’s are home or when the house is locked up, criminals are now hitting when the domestic worker is at home.
Your domestic worker is a soft target, and let’s face it, she has nothing to lose. The easiest way to get your domestic worker to help you safeguard your home is by making sure she has something to lose if your house is burgled. Together with this, you need to make sure she knows how to safeguard your property.
If you have a live in domestic worker, make sure that her room is adequately heated in winter. Be friendly when you speak to her, and take an interest in her family and affairs, so that she understands that you care for her. She must know that when she is taking care of your stuff, she is also taking care of her stuff.
In return, to make sure that she understands how to keep your place safe, explain to her how to use the panic buttons on your alarm system. Explain to her very thoroughly that she is not to open the gate for any person if you or your partner did not give specific instruction to do so. Make sure she knows how to call the police, the neighbours etc.
Explain to her she must under no circumstances tell her friends what goes on in the house, for instance she should not tell anybody if you are away on holiday.
A forum for domestic workers security was recently launched in Centurion. If you have something similar in your area, make sure that you get your domestic worker involved.
