High Alert for Upper Highway

Blue Security has put its reaction officers on high alert and increased its vehicles in the Upper Highway area following a spate of violent home invasions in recent weeks. This was the word from Blue Security managing director Henk Van Bemmelen this week who also offered residents some tips on how to create multiple layers of security that can help you to feel safe again.
Van Bemmelen said reaction officers had been briefed and an extra two vehicles had been added to the company’s Upper Highway fleet.
“We have increased our resources to improve on existing visible patrols in the area and we appeal to residents to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity immediately to the police,” Van Bemmelen said.
“Remote community surveillance cameras have been installed at key sites in Hillcrest and Waterfall with additional installations planned for Kloof at our cost, this investment is around R200 000.00. We’ve increased our communication to the general public with crime tips and have invited the public to engage with us as regards making their homes and communities safer,” Van Bemmelen said.
Van Bemmelen urged residents to ensure doors and windows were closed at night and to make sure that all external alarm beams were activated.
“An early warning that intruders are approaching your property provides a defense mechanism that buys time to lock your family in a safe room and to press the remote panic button. Make sure you keep a spare panic remote in your ‘safe room’ and also in the bathroom, which is where robbers often choose to lock up their victims during a home invasion,” Van Bemmelen said. He added that some residents were now turning to on site and street CCTV surveillance cameras as an additional deterrent against criminals. However, he advised residents to ensure that street cameras were backed up by proper control room surveillance and an armed response vehicle.
Secure your home
Van Bemmelen said residents should aim towards creating a “Blue Zone” of multiple layers of security. In an ideal situation you should have the following layers of security that should alert you to the presence of a would-be intruder before they get inside your home.
1. Electric fence (monitored by the alarm)
2. Detector on driveway gate
3. Outdoor beams and/or passives
4. Large outdoor dog trained not to bark unnecessarily
5. Motion sensor activated lights
6. Magnetic contacts on all opening windows and doors
7. Burglar guards / gates on all opening windows and doors.
8. Smaller inside dog trained not to bark unnecessarily
9. Indoor passive infrared detectors.