Beaches will still see lots of activity, even though summer has made way for cooler and rainier weather. If you are planning a visit to the beach or even a municipal or public pool, rather leave your valuable possessions at home.
“Armed response officers who patrol areas close to beaches regularly report incidents where opportunistic criminals have stolen items from beachgoers,” says Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Communications and Marketing at Fidelity ADT. “These kind of incidents sadly happen very quickly; all it takes is someone dropping their guard for a short while.
“Criminals are always looking for easy targets. They are attracted to people who appear to be distracted or not focused on their surroundings, which allows them to quickly grab an unattended item before disappearing.”
Hattingh says there are easy and simple security tips when you are at the beach or at the public pool, that can help ensure that your memories are positive and happy ones:
•
Leave it at home
. You really don’t need to bring your expensive electronic items to the beach. For example, instead of bringing your e-book reader you can choose an actual book or magazine instead.
•
Lock it up
.
Consider beach bags that are easy to securely lock. This helps protect those items that you bring with you.
• Be alert.
Yes, you may be hoping to relax but keep an eye out for anyone that appears to be loitering around you. If anyone or anything feels out of place, look for a lifeguard or a patrolling police officer to assist you.
• Safety in numbers.
There is a definite benefit to being among friends or acquaintances that can look out for one another. It means one person can look after the bags while the others go for a swim.
• Lock your car.
When you park close to the beach make sure your car is properly locked and all windows are closed. Do a quick check to see that no valuable items are visible to any passing pedestrians.
Hattingh urges anyone who has experienced a theft-related incident on the beach, to report it to the police.
“Even if you are not planning to claim from insurance, it will help the police and security partners to get a proper picture of crime trends. We can also log any cars that are thought to be connected to incidents of crime on the Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) network so the camera network can be on the lookout for these vehicles wherever they may move.”
