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WALK IN THROUGH METAL DETECTOR
Criminal home invasions: a serious threat to our safety and security
In this article the focus is on the external threat, i.e., the possibility
of a sudden criminal attack against a home and its occupants by unknown
criminal elements.
The external threat
The external threat comes mainly from housebreakers and robbers.
Housebreakings with intent to commit a violent crime once inside and house
robberies can be a very traumatic experience leading to serious financial
losses and much psychological and physical suffering of the victims.
During a criminal home invasion, as often experienced in Nigeria, there is
multiple victimization in a single incident. As an example, criminals
often discovered during the act of stealing by the occupants of the house,
may transform into violent offenders and end up committing more serious
types of crime, eg, malicious damage to property, assault, rape and even
murder.
According to independent media crime reports, the reported cases of
burglary (and attempts) at residential premises in the country seems to be
on the increase in spite of the government’s efforts in fighting crime.
Robbery, murder and other violent crimes with aggravating
circumstances are following a similar trend with tremendous increase in
recent times. Three different types of criminals can conduct attacks
against our homes and families:
* Amateurs - are opportunists and look for easy targets. They take
chances, but if the risk of detection is too high, they will not attempt
to enter a home.
* Semi-professionals - know that the key to success is planning.
They usually scout a neighborhood, 'casing' a residence and waiting for
the right moment to strike.
* Professionals - spend sufficient time planning and strategizing
and focus on extremely valuable items, such as money, jewelers, cars and
weapons. The case of Hamani Tijani, the flamboyant underworld king-pin
that resides in Benin republic, and recently arrested by Nigerian security
operatives is a typical example of criminals under this category.
Whilst amateurs usually choose easy targets, e.g., unoccupied homes that
are easy to break into, the more professional criminals may seek to enter
a home with the intention of robbing the occupants of their belongings.
This is when the occupants are most at risk of being subjected to multiple
victimization.
In Nigeria today, it is not uncommon for homeowners to be violently
victimized during an incident of housebreaking. In many documented
instances, in fact, entire families have been brutalized and members
tortured, raped and killed. According to various crime news reports we
being inundated with, violent-related crime events, criminals have been
breaking into residential premises, tying up their victims and taking
their vehicles with the keys and household goods.
Broadly speaking, housebreaking in Western European countries is not
accompanied by violent crime unless the burglar is confronted by the owner
of the house and his escape hindered. However, certain countries, Italy
for instance, have in recent times experienced an increase in violent
attacks against home owners, especially in isolated country villas, where
the occupants have been confronted by organized, well armed criminal
gangs, forced to open safes and hand over cash, jewelers and luxury cars.
The members of these gangs have in many instances been reported to be
foreign criminals (the presence of Albanians, as an example, has often
been documented).
In the United States, the phenomenon of criminal home invasions against
owners who are involved in profitable businesses, e.g., cash generating
businesses or jewelers stores, is not uncommon. In certain instances,
business owners have been kidnapped from their homes and forced to open
stores and safes, whilst their family was held hostage.
Defensive strategies
The above situation is cause for serious concern amongst law abiding
citizens who, in order to defend themselves against the threat of home
invasions, find it necessary to review their security arrangements to make
it as difficult as possible for criminals to gain access to their homes.
There is a difference between occasional and professional offenders.
Occasional offenders often respond to an opportunity they find
irresistible and can be deterred by preventive measures. Professional
offenders, on the other hand, are characterized by experience and by being
well organized and are often not easily deterred by preventive measures.
Having said that, however, a number of crime prevention strategies (behavioral,
situational and environmental) can be considered in order to minimize the
risk of violent victimization whilst in the 'safety' of our homes.
* The first step to make a home and its occupants secure is to evaluate
the effectiveness of the existing security measures. It is important
to identify all vulnerable areas. Police and security experts can be of
assistance in this regard. Unfortunately, home owners in Nigeria do not
take us the security professionals into confidence while constructing
their property. They only come calling when the bubble bursts.
* One of the best defensive strategies against crime is maintaining a
high level of alertness, especially when we arrive home or depart from
home. If you notice any suspicious person or vehicles near your home,
drive on and call police or security. With the help of your GSM you reach
out for help easily by dialing 112, with or without credit on your phone,
and with or without SIM card on the phone. Beware of repairmen, roadside
mechanics, delivery personnel or general workers in the proximity of your
home. When you are inside your home, it is also necessary to remain
vigilant, eg, arm the perimeter alarm, check doors and windows and listen
to unusual noises.
* If you arrive home to find that windows or doors have been tampered
with, do not go inside but instead call police or security from a cell phone
or a neighbor's home.
* Do not give personal information to unknown callers. In the event of
an obscene call, hang up immediately without talking. Consider installing
a caller's identification device if your telephone network does not have
one.
* Domestic staff and children need to be educated to look out for
suspicious people loitering in the neighborhood and report them to the
police. They should have the telephone number of the police and
security put in a visible place for an emergency, be told not to pass out
information on their employers/parents and not to allow strangers on the
property without permission.
* Employers should always check staff's references as the 'external
threat' may also come from within the household. The fact that a
domestic worker has been with a family for years does not constitute a
guarantee of safety. Don’t overlook ‘minor’ acts of dishonesty by
employees.
* Always lock doors and gates, even if you have to go just around the
corner. Lock your garage and also the door that goes from the garage
to the house. Secure your sliding glass doors to prevent them from being
lifted out of their track.
* Do not leave ladders or tools lying around your house as these may be
used to gain access to your house or apartment.
* Be sure that there are no large trees with branches overhanging your
house that could be used by criminals to climb onto the roof or balcony.
* Consider fencing your property in such a way that it is possible to see
through. Walls or solid fencing provide unlimited cover for criminals
once they are in your yard. These high fences will provide the criminals
with temporal refuge while on operation in your facility.
* Close your blinds when you are home in order to avoid being observed
by potential criminals.
* Avoid names next to street numbers. This will prevent a would-be
burglar of looking up the name of the resident in the telephone book or
Yellow Page and using his/her telephone number to check if someone is
home. However, the house numbers should be clearly visible for police,
firemen and paramedics to easily identify your home in an emergency.
* Home owners should also make their homes more secure against the
possibility of criminal invasions by, for instance, considering the
following target hardening measures:
• Intruder detection and panic systems may not in themselves prevent a
criminal attack against a household but may be of value in: (1) detecting
a crime in progress and (2) activating an emergency reaction system. The
utilisation of outdoor infrared beams or passive infrared detectors offers
the advantage that the home owners will be alerted of an attempted
housebreaking at an early stage, thus providing them with far more time to
react to an emergency situation. Furthermore, remote portable panic
transmitters should be carried at all times in order to be able to summon
the contracted security company, neighbours and police at the first signs
of potential trouble. A panic transmitter should be kept in the car.
Indications are that burglars tend to avoid houses fitted with alarms and
links to response companies. It is, however, necessary to be linked to a
reputable security company with a strong presence in the area. This should
provide for a quick reaction to an emergency. Also, test your security
systems on a regular basis and arrange for them to be adequately
maintained.
• Other security systems which may be considered include video
surveillance cameras placed at strategic positions. A video intercom
system will also be of value.
• Surveillance is a weapon that may be used against criminals who are
less likely to act if their actions can be witnessed. Palm trees should be
trimmed away and large plants and trees avoided (as they provide a hiding
place for criminals).
• Dogs can be a deterrent provided that they are adequately trained to
raise the alarm. Small dogs kept inside the house, especially at night,
can act as an early warning system against potential intruders. Have a
beware dog sign at strategic places.
• Materials, locks and padlocks securing doors, garage doors and fence
gates should be of the best quality. Solid core doors, dead bolts and
hardened shackle padlocks should be considered. Depending on the level of
threat and on location (eg, isolated homes), consideration should also be
given to installing burglar proofing and security doors/garage doors and
reinforced glass where needed.
• Valuables should not be kept in the main bedroom, as this is the first
place the burglars inspect. Use a properly hidden safe to lock your
valuables and firearm, which must be licensed away. Children’s room is
also an area rarely touched by burglars who usually presume that it
contains nothing worthwhile for them.
• Make a valuables inventory and keep a photographic or videotape record
of your expensive and personally significant items. Store this inventory
at a safe location. As I earlier mentioned in my last week’s article, it
is also recommended that you mark these items with some kind of personal
information. This is helpful for both police and insurance purposes.
• Lighting is an important crime deterrent. Your residence should be
well lit. Consider a combination of photoelectric lighting (which
automatically switches itself on at dusk and off at dawn) and
motion-sensitive lighting (which switches itself on the instant an
intruder steps into its range) to cover strategic areas. Make sure the
lights are positioned at a height that intruders cannot easily disable
them. Electronic timers that turn internal lights on and off at different
times are also important
Conclusion
Criminal home invasions can have extremely serious consequences for the
victims. As we cannot expect the police or security to be constantly
guarding our properties and us, it becomes necessary for us to take the
initiative and adopt defensive strategies to minimize the risk of violent
victimization.
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