Home invasions and murder: Alarming statistics and incidents call for rethinking your home security
Home invasions are not always random but the victims are carefully chosen, sometimes followed around after being spotted in public places, wearing expensive jewellery or designer clothes, seasoned investigator Calvin Rafadi said.
“You address can be followed up on when you are seen in public driving one of those expensive cars. When people drive to their homes from places like shopping malls, they should be vigilant,” Rafadi speaking to IOL.
“Always watch if you are not being followed and you can drive around the block before entering your home. Sometimes the criminals drive around neighbourhoods and they can see the big screen TV in your house.”
Throughout August, South African commemorated Women’s Month, honouring women for their role as the backbone of society and celebrating them as leaders and agents of change.
However, the commemorations are blighted by widespread reports of femicide and gender-based violence in the country.
Late in August, a 21-year-old man Cuan Karelse appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court, after he was found in possession of a stolen Range Rover Velar sport utility vehicle, with the body of the murdered woman – the owner – inside the car.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said the 21-year-old man was arrested at a filling station in Tshwane and some of woman’s possessions were found in the vehicle.
Karelse is facing a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition, as well as a charge of murder for killing a 57-year-old woman Renee Lea from Standerton in Mpumalanga.
Gauteng spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Lumka Mahanjana said it is alleged that on August 24, Karelse slipped into Lea’s place of residence, where he robbed and murdered her.
“It is alleged that the accused tied her up, robbed her of her belongings, wrapped her with a carpet put her in the boot of her car and drove with her to Pretoria,” said Mahanjana.
In August, IOL also reported that police in the Waterberg District in Limpopo had launched an extensive manhunt for suspects responsible for the murder of a 92-year-old woman, and an arson attack on her eight-room house.
“The victim was later discovered by the police inside the bathroom, tightened with a cloth. Following the brutal attack, the unknown suspects set the house on fire and fled the scene,” said Limpopo provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.
In an interview with IOL, anti-crime activist and host of Crime Watch on etv and eNCA, Yusuf Abramjee given the massive scourge of burglaries and home invasions, it is time for every South African homeowner to rethink their home security and consider an evacuation plan in the event of an invasion by intruders.
“Home security is a must. The high levels of burglaries and house invasions are a worry. The statistics speak for themselves. Yes, an evacuation plan is important and children also need to be educated on what needs to be done,” said Abramjee.
“Taking security precautions and having alarms, beams, CCTV, burglar bars are not luxuries – but it is essential. Criminals are targeting homes because they see them as easy targets,” he said.
“The demand for private security armed response services is on the increase. The police can’t be everywhere and the response time for most of it is poor.”
Willem Els, a Senior Training Coordinator on terrorism and explosives at the Institute for Security Studies told IOL the eroding confidence in the South African Police Service (SAPS) has spurred a thriving private security industry as spooked homeowners seek guaranteed security and response during times of home invasions.
“The situation that we have in South Africa, where people are getting dependent on private security because of the failure of the police,” Els said.
“If you look at the failure of the police, you see that 73% of South Africans in a recent study indicated that they have no trust in the police. That creates a big problem because where do you go to, if you need the police. Who do you go to for protection?”
“More and more South Africans are becoming reliant on paying for their private security. That has led to situation where we have private security which is three to four times bigger than the police,” said Els.
“That brings us to another challenge. Those who afford private security are doing, but what about the people who cannot afford it? That is the majority of South Africans.”
He said it is imperative for every resident across South Africa to familiarize themselves with the local police station, and be involved with the sector policing structures or community policing forums.
“It seems like the citizens of South Africa have become so disengaged with the police because of the mistrust, but we also forget that this is a partnership between us and the police,”said Els.
“The function of the police is supposed to be from the community, and in the community. When police and communities hold hands, they quickly identify the bad apples within the police and they will be exposed. The police do not want those bad apples within the police.”
Meanwhile, Rafadi told IOL that technological devices likes beams and CCTV cameras are critical for households.
Dogs are also recommended in improving home security and they are able to alert the home owner when intruders arrive, he said.
“Also, never dump in your yard boxes which show that you purchased big electronics or expensive household gadgets. The criminals drive or walk around the neighbourhoods and are looking for such clues,” Rafadi said.
“This advice can help everyone in South Africa, be it the villages, township or suburbs – never leave any window open when you go to sleep, no matter how hot it is. Even if you have burglar bars, just close the windows,” he said.
“The criminals burn what they call the hyena tail and you will not wake up as they brake into your house. You can actually sleep for 48 hours and they ransack your house.”
Rafadi said while partying, some victims have had their drinks spiked and later the criminals follow and break-in.
“Make sure that on social media, your children are not posting your lifestyle at home including holiday trips and the upcoming trips. The criminals can know the setup of your house from following social media posts, or they can know your upcoming trips and all that,” he said.
Earlier this year, IOL reported that then minister of police, Bheki Cele has expressed concern about the spike in the murder rate in the country, with 7,710 people murdered between October and December last year.
Cele made the revelation in February, adding that this was an increase of 2.1% compared to the same period in the previous year.
Cele said government was concerned about the rise in the murder rate in the country. There were 7,710 people killed in that 2023 third quarter, which is 155 more people compared to the same period in 2022.
He said most of the murders were reported in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
IOL