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Write to us, engage us in debate and you could win a cool prize. In fact, this month we take that literally: our winning letter earns a Little Luxury Vitality water cooler valued at R1 300. This SA Rugby unit is beautifully finished and has a rubber feel and real metal enamel badges with a green LED. Water is on, well, everyone’s lips, with drought and water quality among the biggest threats facing our society. For many, filtering their water has become second nature and with Little Luxury Vitality that process is easy and affordable. It’s silly to have bottled water delivered to your house, at huge cost financially and environmentally, with diesel truck emissions adding to the pollution. The Little Luxury Vitality water cooler is the most affordable true mini cooler. It provides 7 litres of icecold filtered water at your fingertips. Little Luxury Vitality cooler filters exceed both the USA and the European standards; they use Nsf-certified filters, are tested by SGS France and approved by the FDA.

It’s the perfect gift for your bar, desk, kids’ rooms, next to granny’s bed and on your kitchen counter. Available at Makro and selected Dis-chem stores. To find out more and buy online, visit www.littleluxury.co.za

but you are dense enough to do it anyway.

There are some security standards that you have to comply with, to give you some advance warning of some lowlife planning to attack you.

1. Be armed at all times (all times). Oh, I hear the lady complaining that this is so vulgar. Indeed, yes. It is. But either that, or you are a soft target. Carry a small knife and know how to use it. Carry some weapon at all times. Again vulgar, says auntie from Camps Bay. Yes, please do not, because these attackers live every day to hunt. That is all they do. They read you like a book and will know/feel/see that you are prepared. If you do not carry, you make my life better because they will take you rather than me

2. Use your senses. When approaching your parked car, walking in the mall, wherever you are: listen, smell. If there is a strange sound or smell change your plan of action or be better prepared for possibilities.

3. Keep all outer doors locked at work and home. Keep car doors locked and windows closed at all times (that crippled beggar in reality is probably not crippled, just a scam artist).

Even if you are prepared, you can still be taken. It is a situation that we all hope will never happen. Remember, attacks on innocent people are not planned the day before. The scumbags go out every morning to hunt, steal, kill, if necessary. There is no remorse from their side. We have to adapt.

Being able to do a high kick against your assailant’s head trying to defend yourself is absurd. Just be prepared and aware.

This is not meant to be negative. It has to be seen as a positive thing for yourself. Get training. Your turn may come, but then do not shout for help. You cannot negotiate with attackers. They do not understand that. It is seen as a weakness. car parked outside at night that had outof-town number plates – a sure giveaway. That’s when they struck.

They worked silently at the lounge window, breaking a small segment of glass near the window handle, twisting the handle and gaining access. There was little glassshattering. They then drew back the blinds and opened adjacent windows.

By chance, a visitor needed to use the toilet. As he left the room, he saw an intruder in the lounge. He raised the alarm and that intruder and others fled. But the TV was already gone.

Later, I missed a small box resembling a jewellery box, containing my hearing aids. TV value: R6 000. Hearing aid value: to me R30 000, to the thief, nothing.

Now what to do for better security? In the course of discussions with my security company, I had three sets of beams attached to outside walls and an indoor, piercingly loud siren. I understand that each beam can cover more than 10 metres. These beams cover all access windows: dining room, lounge, three bedrooms and two access doors. All, plus the inside sensors can be controlled by a small pocket-size remote control. For me, a huge improvement.

Advantages are that would-be burglars cannot access windows or doors without breaking the beams and setting off the siren. At the same time, they will be alerting the security people. The beams can be activated separately or together with the indoor system. Thus, when alone or with resident visitors, the beams alone are activated and the house inhabitants secured. When leaving the house, a single press on the remote activates all systems. There is little chance of false alarms and beams are not affected by weather, insects or even my cat.

The cost: a little less than replacing my TV. I now sleep well at night. As do my guests.