| Usually your personal security won't be much of an | | | | good for this, so are roses, bougainvilleas, holly and |
| issue. Yes, anyone can get mugged, but unless you go | | | | barberry. Guard dogs are excellent if they have been |
| around upsetting dangerous people or living in | | | | trained not to take food from outside their bowl and |
| dangerous places you shouldn't need a bodyguard. | | | | they have been trained not to eat your kids. Put up |
| The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to | | | | 'Beware of the Dog' signs to prevent lawsuits. Small |
| keep a low profile. When mixing with wealthy people | | | | yappy dogs make good alarm systems but they are |
| it's fine or even desirable to dress up, wear your | | | | also annoying as they often yap at anything. You need |
| expensive watch and jewelery & flaunt yourself. | | | | one that knows the difference between an intruder |
| It's fun. But there is a time and a place for everything. | | | | and a moth. |
| Don't rub your wealth in the faces of non wealthy | | | | Lighting is important. Gates and entrance points should |
| people. Their life is hard enough already without being | | | | be constantly lighted as a deterrence. Motion sensitive |
| reminded of what they don't have but would love to | | | | lighting should be considered for the rest of your |
| possess. Most people (wealthy or not) would never | | | | compound. |
| dream of hurting you or robbing you even if they are | | | | Gravel driveways and paths are difficult for people to |
| jealous. But don't tempt fate. Jails are full for a reason. | | | | walk on quietly. You might want to consider this. |
| Some people are desperate enough to steal with or | | | | Doors should be solid, not hollow. Use security screen |
| without violence. I do recommend you take self | | | | doors locked at all times. Remember also, a door is |
| defence classes, they keep you fit, help your self | | | | only as strong as the frame it is in. Glass in the door if |
| confidence and could save your life. If you do find | | | | used at all, should be kept away from the locking |
| yourself in the position however where someone | | | | mechanism. Use deadlocks (so you need a key both |
| sticks a gun or knife in your face and demands your | | | | sides) and good quality hinges. Garage doors are a |
| watch, give it to them, it should be insured anyway. | | | | weak point in most homes. The door leading from your |
| Don't be a hero, graveyards are full of heroes. | | | | garage into your home should be treated as an |
| To secure your car, get an alarm and never leave it | | | | external door and secured as such. Use peep holes |
| unattended when it is unlocked. Keep it fully insured | | | | and intercoms to screen people before opening the |
| and park wherever possible in a well lit parking | | | | door to them. |
| structure which has video surveillance and a boom | | | | Windows are a problem. Using pins are a good idea to |
| gate that needs to be raised using a ticket or manually | | | | lock sliding windows (and doors for that matter). They |
| by some person in a booth when you want to leave. | | | | can also be easily removed in an emergency. If |
| To secure your home you need to take a good hard | | | | possible windows on the ground floor should have |
| look at the estates weaknesses. Start at the | | | | bullet proof glass so they can't be smashed. Make |
| perimeter. Fences are designed to keep the faint | | | | sure skylights are reinforced and that vents that lead |
| hearted out, delay intruders, warn the resident of | | | | to the roof or walls are all too small for human access. |
| intruders, if alarmed, and it fitted with cameras identify | | | | Invest in a quality alarm system. A monitored alarm |
| the intruders. The best fences are masonry walls at | | | | system is best. If it goes off a security company |
| least 2.5m high with barbed wire or broken glass | | | | comes to see what the problem is. Have signs clearly |
| fastened to the top. Don't have more gates than | | | | visible as a deterrent. If you can afford it, pay to have |
| necessary and keep them locked. For convenience | | | | security patrols come by your house at irregular |
| have automatic gates with a card or pin number | | | | intervals or even have them permanently on site. |
| access. Remote controlled gates can be hacked too | | | | Don't tell people your plans when going on holidays. By |
| easily. The gate should be made of similar strength | | | | this I mean, keep it as quiet as possible. Have your mail |
| material as the wall. | | | | and newspapers collected. Put some of your interior |
| Normally when people steal from you they do it in a | | | | lights on timers so it looks like you're home. |
| way so they are not seen or they use a ruse (like | | | | Also secure your home from fire. Protect sleeping |
| pretending to be a removalist and clear out your house | | | | areas by installing smoke detectors between sleeping |
| openly in front of the neighbors). If you take the right | | | | areas and other parts of the house. Check the |
| precautions you can be very well protected. You don't | | | | batteries regularly. Have fire extinguishers in the |
| need to turn your house into Fort Knox. Nobody with | | | | kitchen, sheds and garages. Kitchen extinguishers must |
| half a brain is going to ram through your front gate and | | | | be rated for fat fires. Also have a fire blanket fitted in |
| storm your house armed with machine guns if you | | | | the kitchen. Learn how to use them. Have monitored |
| have a decent police force in your country. Too high a | | | | fire alarm systems fitted with your monitored burglar |
| profile, limited chance of success. | | | | alarm system. Also have a fire escape plan and make |
| Keep your yard clean and free from hiding places. | | | | sure everyone knows it. |
| Clear shrubs away from windows. Use cameras, have | | | | You can also have a medical emergency panic button |
| some clearly visible as a deterrent and some hidden | | | | installed that is also monitored in some cases. |
| so they can't be found and neutralized (not a likely | | | | At the end of the day, don't panic or live in fear, just |
| event). Flower beds around the house are a good idea | | | | take sensible precautions. You have worked too hard |
| as they offer no where to hide and are very good at | | | | to attain your lifestyle, to just give it away to someone |
| collecting footprints. Thorny plants around fences and | | | | looking for a short cut. |
| around downpipes are a good idea. Cactuses are | | | | |