SILKE’S TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE

• Do not get into a car with a stranger. ‘A friend of mine did this recently and was sexually assaulted.’ Do not leave your gym bag, your groceries, phone or anything on the car seat next to you. ‘Everything must go into the boot, or where it’s well hidden.’ When you’re out and about, stay off your phone and watch what’s going on around you. ‘If you think you’re going to be hijacked, put your hazards on and drive in an erratic way. If potential hijackers know you’re onto them, it minimises your risk – criminals are cowards; to them, their safety and security comes first.’ If your dogs bark constantly and you don’t take notice, you’re setting yourself up for disaster. ‘Thieves love dogs that bark all the time because it means the owners aren’t paying attention.’ Dogs should sleep inside the house. ‘Criminals have told me that there are two things they hate: dogs inside the house and palisade fences, because they’re difficult to get over.’ Don’t give anybody the PIN to your alarm.

PREVENTING THEFT AT WORK

• Make sure the building is empty at close of day. ‘I’ve been to scenes where workers have waited inside the building, then stolen what they wanted and broken out instead of breaking in.’ • Monitor your employees’ behaviour. ‘If there’s been a sudden life change, such as a death or marriage or a big financial change in their lives, people could become a risk.’ • Petty-cash boxes need to be monitored. • Take note of a bookkeeper who never takes leave. It could be

because they don’t want others to have a look at the books.