Many people are already making plans for Christmas. They should not forget to include taking steps to ensure their property is safe and secure, particularly if they  are going away, Safeguard Security has pointed out.

“The time to think about the security of your home and business premises during the festive period is now,” Safeguard Security customer services manager Lol Ribeiro said.

“We recommend that businesses and householders take the necessary steps now to secure their premises and the property inside them, especially if they are going to travel during the holidays.

“Homes and offices are particularly vulnerable during the festive season, when thieves and robbers know that many people will be going to visit family or friends or going to their rural homes or to a holiday resort,” he said.

“Those who have security systems in place should ensure the measures they have in place are adequate and effective. They might want to expand or improve on what they already have in place. Those who do not have any security barriers or systems should seriously consider getting them,”  Mr Ribeiro said.

He said an alarm system is most effective when linked to an emergency  rapid response service.  CCTV cameras linked to the alarm system and rapid response service further enhanced its effectiveness and the effectiveness of the rapid response team. This should be considered essential for commercial premises, he said.

He pointed out that Safeguard has more rapid response vehicles deployed than any other service provider enabling its response teams, with the assistance of GPS mapped sites,  to arrive rapidly at sites where an alarm has been triggered.

Those who already have alarm systems should test their batteries to ensure they were not likely to fail in the event of electricity loadshedding or a power failure. An additional back-up battery could be installed, if necessary.

The alarm system should be tested to ensure there were no problems. The radio link to the rapid response service should also be tested.

“Safeguard response clients can use the Safeguard app to test both the alarm system and the signals to the response centre,” Mr Ribeiro said.

Electric fences and outdoor beams should be inspected to ensure they were clean and clear of any obstruction, such as branches or leaves, that could cause them to malfunction.

“False alarms are irritating for neighbours and divert the response team from attending to real emergencies,” he said.

Whether going away for an extended period or just going out for a day or for a short period of time, it was important to activate the alarm before leaving the premises, he emphasised.

“You can also request a Safeguard team to visit your premises while you are away just to make sure everything is alright,” he said.

If there is anyone staying on the premises, it is important that he or she has a mobile panic button for use if intruders are detected or suspected on the premises, he pointed out.

He added that Safeguard response clients who are going away on holiday within Zimbabwe should ensure they have the Safeguard app downloaded on their phone.

“The Safeguard app includes a panic button that enables you to alert Safeguard in any security emergency wherever you may be within Zimbabwe, as long as you have an internet connection.

“It also has buttons that can be pressed in a medical emergency or if roadside assistance is required in the case of a breakdown,” he said.

“Try not to let people in the neighbourhood know you are going away. Ensure there are no valuables in easy sight of anyone who might look into your house. Do not keep large amounts of cash in the house, as cash is one of the major targets of robbers today.

“Wherever you are going, be security conscious. Take note of those around you. Do not leave your cellphone or handbag unattended or where it could easily be grabbed. Put any valuables in the boot of your car rather than on the seat, where they can be seen by passers-by.

A credit clerk passing credits worth US$83 000 to ghost clients, a general manager obtaining bulk fuel through a fake proof or payment and fake doctors stealing from a general hospital are just some of the alleged fraud and theft cases reported in the course of the year.

Currently there are cases before the courts where fake documents are alleged to have been provided in tender applications.

Fraud and theft seem to have become endemic, though it is generally only the most sensational cases that are reported in newspapers.

According to Zimstat there were 38 042 cases of theft in Zimbabwe reported in the first quarter of this year, 3 455 cases of fraud and 83 cases of corruption.

Potential theft or fraud is a concern that most businesses have. However, detecting such dishonesty is far from easy, particularly where there is collusion among employees or managerial staff or where such dishonesty has become accepted as normal among employees.

It is unlikely that even honest workers will report the dishonesty of colleagues. Often the only way to discover what is going on is to have an undercover agent among the employees, according to Safeguard senior investigations manager Nelson Zimunya.

The undercover investigators carry out normal employee duties but keep an eye open for any type of dishonesty or any conduct or weaknesses in the company’s systems that could adversely affect its profitability.

“The undercover operatives are carefully selected and vetted and undergo a Truth Verification Test prior to their deployment,” Mr Zimunya said. “They undergo intensive undercover operations training  to ensure their effectiveness.”

Their brief is to observe and report on a variety of issues. Apart from reporting any theft or dishonesty that they become aware of, they observe and report to their supervisors at Safeguard on any misconduct they have observed. The agent’s briefing will be in line with the customer’s concerns.

“If anything of urgent interest  is uncovered that requires immediate attention, either I or the area controller communicate directly with the company,” Mr Zimunya said.

“Various forms of dishonesty and corruption have become common and cannot easily be detected except through the deployment of undercover operatives. Dishonesty has sadly become an accepted fact of life in which even those who condemn it often participate at one time or another.

“Collusion or the unwillingness of colleagues to betray one of their own makes detecting theft or fraud or even rudeness to customers difficult for senior managers to detect or be made aware of.

“However, infiltrating an agent whose mission is to observe and report on any malpractices he or she becomes aware of enables us to make a company’s top officials aware of what is going on, whether it be theft, fraud, misuse of company property or time, managerial abuse, rudeness to customers,  labour unrest, gossip or comments about the employer, or any other issue the company wants to be made aware of,” Mr Zimunya said.

“When theft, fraud or any other criminal activity has been detected, our investigations enable us to collect and provide the evidence needed for a criminal conviction,” he added.