How to keep your farm secure while you’re away on holiday

If you’re contemplating going away over the vacations, you might have considered trying to suppose once more. Dr Florence Nherera-Chokuda, head of farmer assist and growth on the National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, explains that theft of inventory and different belongings often escalates from October till December, with excessive meat and meals costs supporting this pattern.

“Rather invite your family and friends to celebrate Christmas on the farm, and then take a break a week or two later in January, once things have settled. If you have no choice, try not to stay away for more than five days,” she suggests.

Major-General Chris van Zyl, common supervisor of TAU SA, agrees: “You ideally don’t need to be away from the farm over Christmas, as stock-theft syndicates received’t take a break, and other people have a tendency to steal extra for the pot throughout this time.

“Over the years, we’ve also found that stock theft tends to peak when there’s a full moon, over weekends, and at the start and end of the month.”

Whenever you resolve to go on depart, although, there are a number of key preventative measures you must take: don’t make it apparent you’re away and your home is empty; secure the premises; harness the goodwill and native data of the neighborhood; and get insurance coverage that covers you in opposition to loss.

Signs of life
Carel Hauptfleisch, CEO of Drongo Early Warning Technologies, stresses that nothing is as nice a deterrent to thieves as indicators of life. It subsequently is smart to inform a trusted neighbour, a pal or member of the family of your plans, give them a set of keys and ask them to test up on the home as soon as in a while.

“Suggest that they take a coffee break at your place or help themselves to a couple of beers from your fridge. You would, in any case, need to ask someone to feed your dogs,” says Hauptfleish.

Where attainable, neighbours or mates ought to be inspired to park their autos (or these of their guests) in your driveway to create the impression that someone is on the farm. Other methods embrace leaving curtains 1 / 4 of the way in which open in some home windows, and maintaining the TV and some lights on.

Better but, suggests Van Zyl, is to get a house-sitter such because the farm supervisor, a neighbour’s youngster or one other member of the family.

“Preferably, for safety reasons, more than one person should stay on the farm. Also, ensure that you know and trust these people.”

The neighbourhood watch
If you make use of an armed response firm, present it with your date of departure and return, in addition to the contact particulars of the one that can be answerable for the farm while you’re gone. Request extra patrols if these are on supply.

“Test the alarm, make sure it works before you go away, and show the house-sitters or the person left in charge how to use and activate the system. Give them the contact details of the armed response company,” says Hauptfleish.

If you’ve gotten a neighbourhood watch in your space, inform the individuals who run it of your plans.

Nherera-Chokuda says that neighbourhood watches are gaining reputation in rural areas, as neighbours have a shared curiosity in crime prevention and might establish and reply to threats a lot faster than third events due to their shut proximity to each other.

“Join the neighbourhood watch if you haven’t done so already, and strengthen it by actively participating in its activities. Having members of a community look out for one another is much better than being reliant on yourself, or a third party who is miles away,” she says.

The neighborhood and workers
Farm workers are essential members of the neighborhood and must also be roped
in to improve farm security and safety.

Van Zyl says that this could begin lengthy earlier than a farmer goes on holiday, by way of the appointment of reliable workers with a great monitor report and references.

“Focus on building relationships and strengthening trust over time, and don’t employ new people just before you go on leave. If you look after your workers, they’ll look after you.”

Thieves usually steal money and objects which are straightforward to resell, equivalent to TVs, computer systems and electrical home equipment. Van Zyl subsequently advises that additional care be taken when deciding whom to make use of to work within the house. To cut back the danger of theft, he means that valuables be saved out of sight, and weapons locked away in a neighbour’s or pal’s protected.

Hauptfleisch provides that the whole lot of worth in and round the home ought to be packed away: “If someone peeps through a window from the outside, there should be very little to see.”

Security know-how
Burglar bars, alarm methods, safety gates, automated lighting, electrical fencing and video cameras all have worth as deterrents. Van Zyl emphasises that the majority thieves are opportunists, on the lookout for a fast and simple approach out and in.

“These [methods are] not a complete guarantee against a break-in, but will make a criminal think twice before targeting you by increasing the effort needed to break in and the risk of being caught.”

Livestock and tools will also be fitted with GPS trackers to monitor their motion through cellphone or pill. Livestock units are usually programmed to alert farmers when the animals have interaction in ‘abnormal’ behaviour, equivalent to beginning to run, and newer software program will also be programmed to alert farmers when the animals transfer out of a predefined space, referred to as a geofence.

“The technology enables you to watch the movements of your livestock via your smartphone while sitting at the beach, far from the farm,” says Van Zyl.

The know-how, sadly, is just too costly to match on quite a lot of animals, he cautions.

“And if the alarm goes off and livestock is stolen, you may be 1 000km away from the farm at a time when the situation needs your quick intervention.”

Nherera-Chokuda says that canine can function one other priceless safeguarding software.

“Dogs sound the alarm when something is wrong and could be used as shepherds to protect your livestock. They should, nevertheless, be well trained to play these roles.”

Livestock and crops
Fences and gates ought to be effectively maintained, not solely to handle the motion of livestock, but in addition to create a barrier between the farm and trespassers. In addition, gates want to be stored closed and locked, a precaution that Hauptfleish says appears apparent, however is uncared for by many individuals.

“It doesn’t pay to have the fanciest, most secure locks if the gates are left open!”
In addition, livestock ought to, so far as attainable, be stored in camps which are a good way from roads, particularly in a single day.

“If sheep are grazing near a busy road where the fence is broken, it’s so much easier for someone to stop and load them onto a bakkie,” says Nherera-Chokuda.

Counting and marking animals
Van Zyl advises that livestock ought to be counted usually (no less than as soon as per week) and ideally extra usually over Christmas to assist establish theft as quickly because it occurs.

“When people steal for the pot, one individual animal may be taken per day, making it more difficult to identify theft by merely looking at the flock.”

Livestock additionally want to be clearly marked, as prescribed by legislation, to assist with the identification of possession when animals are stolen.

“Court cases are lost when people cannot identify and prove that the recovered animals belong to them,” says Van Zyl.

He provides that over the previous few years, theft of higher-value fruit has elevated tremendously.

To curb this downside, he advises farmers to plant orchards away from fundamental roads and spend money on fencing and safety.

“It’s really difficult to do something about crop theft unless the thief is caught red-handed, because it’s near impossible to match fruit with the legitimate owner once it has left the farm.”

Insurance
The final consideration is insurance coverage. Hauptfleish means that farmers ought to “go temporarily crazy with short-term insurance, as you’re under increased risk over this time”.

“You can get low cost extra short-term insurance coverage, whether or not the belongings are at house or are introduced with you, and cancel it as soon as you come back.

“And if you’re driving far, it might also make sense to join the AA ,” he advises.

Email Dr Florence Nherera-Chokuda at [email protected], Major-General Chris van Zyl
at [email protected], or Carel Hauptfleish at [email protected].