TO ALL RESIDENTS :
In the past 8 years I have sent out 100's of e-mails asking residents to be vigilant and reminding them that THEIR SECURITY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THEIR WEAKEST LINK. This morning I was a victim of a housebreaking at 6.45 a.m. when an intruder gained access to our property in Claremont over a high back wall after my husband had left at 6.15 a.m. I awoke with him forcing his way through a "Happy door" on the patio adjoining the bedroom. Even when I shouted at he made NO attempt to run away I managed to lock him in the bedroom and ran out the front door to seek assistance. I am sharing this with you to highlight how quickly and easily an incident can occur and to share with you my first hand learnings. - We recently had the house painted and the painter painted OVER the panic button ! The alarm was ineffective. - The alarm and garden beams were deactivated when my husband left as I had every intention of getting up - I dozed off ! Keep your alarm activated AT ALL TIMES. - Keep your front door keys close to the door for a quick exit and ensure that your security gate is easy to open. I struggled, in my haste, to open the double lock of the security gate. Had the intruder not been locked in the bedroom I would have been locked inside the house behind the security door ! - NEVER think it will not happen to YOU ! - Be EXTRA careful when there are builders in the area. There are building activities in the road ? A gentleman driving past came to my assistance by alerting ADT and the SAPS and a kind neighbour lent me her gown ! The suspect got away with my handbag containing my purse, I.D., passport, cheque book and cell phone. He also took my watch and jewellery which was on the dressing table before escaping over the back wall. The ADT Patrolmen found my empty handbag in the adjoining property and later my cheque book was recovered a few properties away. Please enforce your security "rules" AT ALL TIMES. Regards Shirley Aldum -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en
