Popular driveway theft trend makes comeback in South Africa’s richest province

Fidelity-ADT has warned of a rise in the theft of gate motors across Gauteng province.

Criminals are targeting homes in Johannesburg, including areas such as Bergbron, Fairlands, Florida Glen, Helderkruin, Northcliff, and Observatory.

“In the past week we have had multiple reports of stolen gate motors in these areas,” said Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing & Communications at Fidelity-ADT.

The warning comes a month after Fidelity highlighted instances of gate motor theft in the Pretoria East area, particularly in the suburbs of Constantia Park and the Newkloof security village.

There has also been worrying cases where criminals deactivate the gate motor and access properties while on manual override.

A thriving black market

The theft of gate motors stems from the fact that there’s a thriving black market for their parts in South Africa.

Stolen gate motors are often stripped down, and their various components, such as the batteries and gearboxes, are sold individually.

Alternatively, they are sold as complete units to unsuspecting homeowners by these “access automation bandits” as they are often referred to.

To safeguard your property from these criminals, Hattingh recommends ensuring that the gate motor is secured in a steel casing or bracket which is locked at all times.

“Suspects often just place their hands through the gate if your gate motor is unsecured and installed right next to a “palisade-type” gate,” she said.

“They are then able to switch the gate to manual and access your property.”

Consider installing adequate anti-lift brackets and welding a piece of flat bar onto the gate rack to prevent thieves from bending the rack upwards.

At night, it’s best to manually lock the gate with an insurance-rated padlock which acts as an added layer of protection should the criminals still be able to override the motor.

Another useful tool would be security beams that will monitor your gate for any breaches.

For the best result, combine mechanical anti-theft systems with electronic notification devices, for example, sound bombs and GSM units.

These can send notifications to users when the device’s inputs are triggered.

“Your electric gate should be one of the first perimeter deterrents to protect you from crime,” concludes Hattingh.

“Activate early-warning systems such as garden beams and/or electric fencing and ensure these are linked to armed response. We need to do our bit to reduce crime by making it harder for the criminals.”