Linda Meyer, Manager: Operational Management Center, shares the following safety tips for when you are away from your home or on holiday.

• Do not leave lights on during the day.
• To prevent your home from looking deserted, install timers to keep some lights burning while you are away.
• Garden tools, ladders or garden furniture clearly visible outside your house might attract criminals.
• Store expensive items such as laptops, cellphones and jewellery in a safe place.   
• Arrange with friends or family to frequently visit your house while you are away to empty your mailbox, feed your pets and water your plants—giving the impression that someone is at home.
• Ensure that the person tasked to look after your house knows how the alarm operates and whom to contact in case of an emergency.
• Ensure that all electric appliances are unplugged to save on electricity and to minimise fire hazards.   
• Never leave keys hidden under doormats or in flowerpots.
• It is advisable to make copies of your important documents such as your identity document before you go away and keep it in a safe place.
• Ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy and serviced and inflate tyres to the correct pressure.
• Factor in enough breaks when undertaking a long journey and plan your route in advance.
• When walking outside, avoid wearing flashy, expensive watches and jewellery, and carrying large amounts of cash. Carry your camera unobtrusively in a bag, rather than slung over your shoulder. Walk purposefully as if you know where you are going and are not a “lost tourist”. Hold your bag close to your body and beware of pickpockets and other confidence tricksters on the streets and in crowded stores. Be aware of ATM theft—never be distracted by a stranger asking for assistance at an ATM.