Fidelity ADT has warned Pretoria residents that the theft of gate motors and security beams in the metro has increased.
The company saw an uptick in reports of theft of these items in the Centurion, Doornkloof, Moot, Rooihuiskraal, and Waterkloof Glen areas.
“These are opportunistic criminals who are constantly moving and targeting different areas,” said Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing and Communications for Fidelity ADT.
“We want to alert all residents and ensure that security measures are ramped up.”
Hattingh advises residents to cut back any trees or bushes around their property wall to make it easier to spot criminals, and to make sure that their gate has security measures in place such as locks on the motor.
“It is also a good idea to test your alarms and panic buttons to make sure all are in good working order. This should be done outside peak times,” she adds.
A thriving black market
The latest warning is the second time Fidelity ADT has sounded the alarm on gate motor theft in a year.
In April 2024, the company noted that several areas in the City of Johannesburg were being targeted by the so-called “access automation bandits” including Bromhof, Fontainebleau, Malanshof, Randparkridge, and Windsor.
Apart from weakening a property’s security for a potential future attack, gate motor theft is spurred on by a thriving black market for these goods.
Stolen gate motors are usually stripped down and components such as batteries, motors, and gears are sold individually on the black market for a decent profit.
They are sometimes also sold as complete units to unsuspecting homeowners.
Likewise, outdoor detection beams are regularly sold on the black market for extra cash. Criminals also know that many homeowners do not activate their outdoor beams when they are home, which makes them easy pickings, said Hattingh.
She offered the following safety tips to homeowners in the country:
- Report stolen beams or other small items to the police
- Make sure to keep yourself safe by using your alarm all the time
- Always arm your alarm, and especially your outdoor beams when you are at home
- Make sure to test your alarm and beams regularly to pick up if any of them are faulty
- If you have outdoor pets, or if something is setting off your alarm beams frequently make sure to check what is causing the issue
“Let’s all be vigilant and work together to bring these incidents to an end,” concluded Hattingh.
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