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<\/a>Recognising the severity of the problem, some manufacturers have developed creative solutions to deter theft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An Eastern European solar panel manufacturer, for example, now produces panels that appear damaged on the surface, making them less attractive to thieves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These panels are specifically designed for the South African market, where solar theft has become rampant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite a temporary reprieve from load shedding in 2024, energy analysts predict that demand for solar will continue to grow as electricity tariffs rise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since 2007, Eskom\u2019s tariffs have increased by 927%, with further hikes on the horizon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Homeowners are expected to turn increasingly to solar energy not only as a solution to power outages but also as a way to save on skyrocketing electricity costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, this growing demand for solar installations will likely keep solar panel theft on the rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Homeowners can take several measures to protect their solar installations from theft. One of the most effective strategies is to install surveillance cameras and motion-sensor lighting around the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These systems can deter criminals and alert homeowners to suspicious activity. Another approach is to use tamper-resistant hardware for mounting solar panels, making it more difficult for thieves to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, securing inverters and batteries in locked enclosures can help protect these high-value components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Homeowners can also consider working with local security companies to integrate their solar systems into a broader home security plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
By combining alarms, surveillance, and physical barriers like security gates or fencing, homeowners can create a more robust defence against theft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For added peace of mind, some insurance policies now offer coverage specifically for solar equipment, providing financial protection in the event of theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nationally, Gauteng accounts for most of the home burglaries across the nine provinces, with just under a quarter (21.4%) of home burglaries in South Africa taking place in the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is unsurprising as it is the most populous province in South Africa and thus has a proportional amount of crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is also seen with the Northern Cape, the most scarcely populated province in the country, and thus has the lowest number of reported burglaries (3.5%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, almost every province in South Africa is represented in the \u2018top 10 worst areas\u2019 list, and it is Mankweng in Limpopo (KZN) which has drawn the most cases of break-ins, followed by two KZN suburbs, Plessislaer and Inanda, in second and third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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