 In partnership with  Is your security system ready for Winter? As winter approaches, the days are growing shorter and nights longer. This is the perfect time to assess your security strategies and ensure they’re equipped to handle all the challenges the cold weather brings. Power cuts can have a severe impact on home security systems, putting your safety at risk. The risk of fires is also greater as it gets darker much earlier in winter. Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing and Communications for Fidelity ADT, suggests giving your security systems a good once-over as soon as possible. Contact your security provider and put the alarm and panic buttons on test and book a technical service call if necessary. “This test is of the utmost importance. If the system is not functioning properly the signal may not reach your security company and they will then not know there is an emergency at your property and will not respond,” she says. She also recommends getting a professional in to check the tensioning of electric fencing as it shrinks in colder weather and this can cause false alarms. Fires during winter can be caused by heaters, electrical appliances, alternate power sources such as gas or the fireplace left burning when you go to bed. So, it is a good idea to link smoke detectors to your alarm system. “The best is to start at the perimeter of your property and work your way in. Think like a criminal and evaluate whether your fencing or wall, garden, windows, doors, shed, garage, etc. have weaknesses a criminal can exploit. As we tend to gather everyone indoors earlier and perhaps change the times we go to gym or walk the dog, security systems like garden beams and sensor lights must also be working properly. Most people still need to leave for work and school at the same time, regardless of whether the sun is up or not. To stay safe, be more vigilant in the early morning and at dusk, when you come home.” Fidelity ADT provides 6 more tips for staying safe this winter: – Check your curb-side house number is still visible in case of an emergency. This can save critical minutes for the response team in the event of an emergency. – If you bring your dogs inside, ask your security company to partition your alarm system in such a way that it still offers an early warning system with pets in the house. – Ensure back-up power supplies are in place to keep lighting, non-functional gate motors and security systems in working condition at all times. – Set external beams in the early evening once everyone is home. – Be vigilant when leaving and arriving home. Criminals take advantage of the longer hours of darkness in winter and are not afraid of the cold! – Ensure your security service provider has the most up-to-date key-holder contact details. An Appeal…as we see more opportunist crime in Harfield Village… Please can you not give food, clothes and money to people ringing bells in our Village. Many of us are trying really hard to keep our Crime as low as possible. Unfortunately, much of the opportunistic crime is under the guise of looking for food, in bins etc. Please do not leave unwanted goods and recycling on your pavements. There is a City dump on Rosmead Avenue where you can take your things. I you recycle, please try schedule collection when you are home or ask a neighbour to help and then just hand it over to them when they are outside, rather than leave it on the pavement. There are also so many charities looking for donations and would welcome what you don’t need anymore. We would really appreciate your help with this. It takes all of us to make the difference. Thank you! Reminders! If you are the unfortunate victim of a crime or attempted crime, no matter how small, please take note of as much detail as possible and open a case at SAPS, as soon as you can. Take note of the vehicle registration, colour, make, model, number of occupants, gender of occupants, location and what direction they are travelling in. Give a comprehensive description of the individual/s (E.g. W/male wearing red hoodie with a green bag and white takkies.) And please WhatsApp me the case number on 081 412 6109. Numbers to keep on hand if you need help urgently. For all Emergencies including Law Enforcement please call: From a cell phone: 021 480 7700 From a landline: 107 They will redirect your call to the relevant sectors to get you help ASAP! Police (Claremont): 021 657 2250 or 10111 Fidelity ADT Emergency: 086 1212 301 Our 2 dedicated F-ADT vehicles are also doing patrols in Harfield Village every day. Har-Lyn Neighbourhood Watch: 071 802 2454 (Please hold on the line if no one answers right away, as it will forward through to F-ADT). HVCID Manager – Jen Rowe: 081 412 6109 (9am – 5pm Mon to Fri) / admin@hvcid.co.za Report any areas of concern to the City Please click on the link below to log your request or complaint. https://eservices1.capetown.gov.za/coct/wapl/zsreq_app/index.htmlCRIME REPORT: (Please note that we are not allowed to report specifics) FIDELITY ADT PATROL CARS: The two dedicated F-ADT response vehicles for Harfield Village are D19 and D20. Reported by Fidelity ADT: 1 – 30 April 2025 – Armed Business Robbery– 3rd Avenue Mileage per vehicle for: 1 – 30 April 2025 D19: 2661 D20: 2706 Callouts per vehicle for: 1 – 30 April 2025 D19: 131 D20: 226 Incidents reported to SAPS: 1 – 30 April 2025 – Business Robbery – 3rd Avenue – Robbery with a firearm – 2nd Avenue – Theft general – Surrey Street (Arrest) – Common Robbery – Princes Road, Imam Haron, 1st Avenue – Fraud – Surrey Street x 2, Kenilworth Road, Imam Haron, Bell Road, Leicester Str – Theft out of Motor vehicle – Surrey Street – Theft from Motor vehicle – Gloucester Street – Possession of a dangerous weapon – Purley Street (2 x Arrests) – Possession and dealing in drugs – Imam Haron (Arrest), – Possession of drugs – Kenilworth Road x 3 (3 x Arrests), 1st Avenue (Arrest) – Possession of House/car break-in implements – 1st Avenue x 2 (Arrests) – Malicious Damage to Property – 1st Avenue NB!!! Please continue to be aware of emails and calls from your supposed bank. Many people are giving their details and pin over the phone or clicking on email links and losing a lot of money. Your banks have been sending notices with alerts to this. Please take care! Fraud is rife at the moment! Never click on links on emails unless you are certain you know where they originate from! Remote jamming continues to increase. Please double check your car is locked even after you hear the beep! |
 It takes a Community to make an impact and we want to highlight the different roles we cover within the Village. Please have a look at the HVCID website for more information about our role in the Community. https://www.hvcid.co.za For the other role players in our Community please see the links below for more information: Harfield Village Association(HVA) – https://harfieldvillage.org.za/ Friends of Harfield Parks(FoHP) – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079170056365 Har-Lyn Neighbourhood Watch – https://www.harlynwatch.org.za/ |
| Stay safe, stay aware, stay warm and let’s just be kind! Jen and the HVCID team |
