Warning over new criminal tactic targeting people’s homes in South Africa

South Africans have been warned about a growing trend where criminals pose as waste pickers to identify houses and garages for theft.

This is supported by crime data from the South African Police Service (SAPS), which shows that home-related crimes remain high across the country.

A total of 32,387 home burglaries were recorded between January and March 2026, equating to roughly 360 cases per day.

Additionally, the SAPS recorded 4,507 house robberies over the same period, roughly 50 per day.

One tactic that criminals are now using to scout houses, garages, and driveways for theft opportunities is to pose as waste pickers, giving them an excuse to linger in the streets while observing people’s homes.

Waste pickers earn a living by collecting recyclable materials from residential and commercial areas, sorting them, and selling them.

However, security experts have warned that criminals are exploiting this familiar sight to scout targets without arousing suspicion.

Roelie Hendriks, chairperson of the Garsfontein Community Policing Forum (CPF) and operations manager at Alpha Security Forum, said it can be hard to tell genuine waste pickers apart from criminals pretending to scavenge recyclable materials.

He noted that there are a handful of tell-tale signs that homeowners can watch out for.

“The bags seldom fill up because their focus is not on collecting recyclables,” said Hendriks.

“Instead, they spend more time looking around, observing residents’ movements and identifying potential opportunities for theft.”

He explained that legitimate waste pickers tend to be efficient, moving quickly from one property to the next to gather as many materials as possible.

“Their bags fill up as they collect recyclables, and they often sort through bins quickly before moving on to the next location.”

“They are generally focused on gathering material before other waste pickers arrive,” he said. 

What criminals are looking for

One of the most common items stolen from people’s homes in recent years has been gate motors, particularly in Gauteng.

Fidelity-ADT previously noted that criminals are targeting homes in Johannesburg in areas like Bergbron, Fairlands, Florida Glen, Helderkruin, Northcliff, and Observatory.

Parts of Pretoria have also been affected, with thieves stealing gate motors from homes in Constantia Park and the Newkloof security village.

The gate motors themselves are valuable because they can be stripped for parts like the batteries and gearboxes, which are easily sold on the black market.

Alternatively, criminals may try to deactivate the motor, allowing them to manually open the gate and gain access to the driveway and house.

Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing & Communications at Fidelity-ADT, said homeowners can take steps to protect their property from these criminals.

She recommended 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.”

Install adequate anti-lift brackets and weld 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.

Other home items frequently targeted by criminals include cars, solar panels, battery storage systems, and gas cylinders.