Public advised to include security in festive season preps

AS Zimbabweans prepare for the coming Christmas and New Year holidays, a leading security company has urged the public to take steps to ensure their properties are safe and secure, particularly those that are going away.

“The time to think about the security of your home and business premises during the festive period is now,” said Safeguard Security customer services manager Lol Ribeiro.

“We recommend that businesses and householders take the necessary steps now to secure their premises and the property inside them, especially if they are going to travel during the holidays.

“Homes and offices are particularly vulnerable during the festive season, when thieves and robbers know that many people will be going to visit family or friends or going to their rural homes or to a holiday resort.

“Those who have security systems in place should ensure the measures they have in place are adequate and effective. They might want to expand or improve on what they already have in place. Those who do not have any security barriers or systems should seriously consider getting them,” he said.

Security products and services that members of the public can obtain include security guards, electric fences and other security barriers such as burglar bars and Xpanda security gates for external or internal doors, alarm systems, closed circuit television (CCTV) and emergency response.

“It is also possible to rent an alarm and response service,” said Ribeiro.

He said an alarm system is most effective when linked to an emergency rapid response service with CCTV cameras linked to the alarm system and rapid response service further enhancing its effectiveness as well as that of the rapid response team.

Ribeiro urged those that wanted to hire security guards just for the holiday period or have an alarm system or any other security product installed before they went away to make the necessary arrangements in good time.

Those who already have alarm systems should test their batteries to ensure they were not likely to fail in the event of electricity load-shedding or a power failure, he said. — New Ziana.