Don't lead robbers to your home

2008-05-14 10:30

Herman Scholtz

Johannesburg - Hijackers and other criminals use increasingly more-technological equipment to target people and some could lead them straight to your home.

This warning came from ADT security in its latest newsletter.

ADT warned people not to store their home addresses on their global positioning systems (GPSs) as it could lead criminals straight to their homes.

Spokesperson Bev McVickter said that hijackers, in particular, used this technology to get to victims' homes.

Most GPSs had a function that allowed users to store their home address so that they did not have to type it in every time they used their GPS.

McVickter said: "Criminals can now just type in 'home' or select it and be led straight there."

Safety function

The newsletter advised people to rather store landmarks or public places like shopping centres, which were close to their homes.

This would ensure that people still had the convenience of the storage function, without leading robbers straight to their homes.

The newsletter also encouraged people to use the safety function on their GPS, which would prevent unauthorised use.

This function meant the GPS had to be switched off when the car's engine was switched off and that it would then require a PIN code when it was reactivated.

- Beeld