THERE’S AN INTRUDER IN MY HOUSE!

WHAT DO I DO?

It’s the middle of the night when you hear the sound of broken glass and footsteps in your house. Do you grab a baseball bat and confront the intruder, as they always do in the movies? Or do you phone your security company and hide while the burglars help themselves to your prized belongings? According to Chris Botha of SWAT Security, the first thing you need to do is activate your alarm system’s panic button. If a criminal enters your home, you have very little reaction time. A portable panic button will instantly alert your security company that you are in trouble, without you having to make any phone calls that might jeopardise your safety. Go to a safe place or room in your house and lock the door. Keep very quiet and if possible, stay there until the intruders have left your house. Do not try to be a hero and confront the intruder. You do not know how many of them there are or whether they are armed. ‘It’s best to avoid confrontation with the intruder if at all possible,’ says Botha. While it may be tempting to use your firearm on an unwelcome ‘guest’, it is against the law to shoot an intruder. Unless your life or someone in your immediate vicinity’s life is in imminent danger, you are not allowed to shoot or harm an intruder. Botha says it is important to stay calm. Take long, deep breaths and do not panic. When you are scared, it’s easy to do things that may anger the robbers and make the situation worse. Remember, your life is more important than anything the robbers can steal from you. Cooperate with the robbers’ demands. Only do what he asks, no more or no less. Keep your hands within sight. Don’t make any sudden moves. Avoid eye contact and don’t look at them for long periods of time. Instead, take quick glances as often as you can. Try to remember the number of intruders, how many of them are armed, what they are wearing, if they have defining characteristics such as scars or tattoos, what language they speak and in which direction they flee. Most importantly, keep your local SAPS, security company and neighbourhood watch’s numbers close by for use in an emergency.