Recent months have seen a sharp rise in house break-ins where burglars enter through the roof in South Africa.
HOTSPOTS FOR ROOF BREAK-INS
According to Fidelity Services Group, these break-ins have surged in Germiston and Klerksdorp. Charnel Hattingh, Head of Marketing and Communications at Fidelity ADT, noted that burglars often disable alarm systems by accessing the panel or antenna through the roof.
EASY ACCESS THROUGH TILED ROOFS
The roof is often the weakest entry point in both residential and business properties. Roof tiles can be quickly removed, and burglars can break through ceiling boards with ease. Once inside, they follow cables to locate and disable the alarm system. In some cases, burglars first enter through a bathroom, where there are typically no alarm sensors, and then access the roof from there.
WHY TILE ROOFS ARE TARGETED
SA Roof Rats points out that houses with tile roofs are particularly vulnerable. Burglars have become adept at opening roof tiles and bypassing traditional security measures like burglar bars, gates, and alarm systems.
COMMON TACTICS USED BY BURGLARS
Top Security Systems, a Northern Cape security company, highlights several tactics burglars use:
- Undetected Yard Entry: Unlocked gates, dark areas, and hiding places provide cover for burglars entering your yard.
- Easy Roof Access: Items like ladders, trees, trash bins, or water tanks can provide easy access to the rooftop.
- Unsecured Roof Tiles: Loose roof tiles and roof sheeting offer easy entry points.
- Hiding Out: Burglars may trigger the alarm, then hide in the roof until the premises have been inspected by the owner or armed response unit, before proceeding to enter the house.
Homeowners are urged to reinforce roof security and ensure all access points are well-protected to prevent such break-ins.