What makes your home a target for criminals in South Africa
Homeowners in South Africa are being warned that there are some aspects of a home that make it an attractive target for opportunistic criminals.
Home-related crime remains high across the country. According to SAPS data, the country recorded 32,387 home burglary cases between January and March 2026.
This works out to roughly 360 incidents a day. Additionally, the SAPS recorded 4,507 house robberies over the same period—or 50 every day.
Speaking in an interview with Hot Business, Damian Judge, Group CEO of Trellidor, said the biggest mistake homeowners make is allowing their properties to appear easy to break into.
Judge explained that most burglars are opportunistic, but that does not mean they act without preparation.
Instead, criminals often spend time observing neighbourhoods, watching residents’ routines, and identifying homes where people are away for extended periods.
“The opportunistic nature of break-ins is that people spend quite a lot of time looking and assessing what the movements are within a neighbourhood,” he said.
He added that homes with little visible investment in physical security are particularly attractive targets.
Judge noted that South Africa’s latest crime statistics show housebreak-ins are increasing despite advances in security technology.
“We’re probably the most advanced we’ve ever been from a technology perspective in terms of home security, but we’re still seeing an increase in break-ins,” he said.
He believes many homeowners are prioritising digital security systems while neglecting physical barriers.
“People are investing a lot of money in digital security, whereas they’re not necessarily investing as much in the physical, and the two work hand in hand.”
Judge said physical barriers are valuable because they buy time for alarms and armed response services to react while also creating noise that can alert neighbours.
He also warned that high perimeter walls can have unintended consequences.
“They create protection from people trying to get into the house because you can’t see them from the road. But, there’s the unintended consequence in that it actually creates another sense of security for the guys trying to get in,” he said.
Start with a professional security assessment
According to Judge, most residential break-ins involve more planning than many people realise.
“I think it’s a combination. There is a lot of planning that goes into it. There’s a lot of time spent in neighbourhoods, and it feels opportunistic because they’re waiting for the right time.”
Judge also cautioned homeowners against assuming all security barriers provide the same level of protection.
“There is a false sense of security placed in barriers, given the testing requirements that are non-existent in South Africa.”
He explained that while South African building standards specify requirements for many construction materials, there are no equivalent standards governing the performance of barrier security products.
“A barrier security on your window or door has zero SANS requirements. There’s nothing in the SANS codes that says to us what testing the product needs to have undergone,” he said.
As a result, Judge urged consumers to research products carefully before buying.
For households on a tight budget, Judge recommended starting with a professional security assessment rather than trying to secure the entire property at once.
“I think the best option is to get a security consultant in because there’ll be obvious vulnerable areas that need to be secured first,” he said. He noted that homeowners often assume the wrong areas need attention.
“Do the assessment, prioritise which areas are highest risk, and look at what other things could be done, such as lighting or bushes that can be cut back”
“Sometimes as a homeowner, you have a perceived idea of where that risk may be, and it’s nice to get a professional consultant to give you a second opinion.”
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