Advertorial

Aequitas Security Solutions this week gives security tips to avoid falling victim to life-threatening crimes.
According to an article published by “The Conversation”: The country’s per capita murder rate for 2022/23 was the highest in 20 years at 45 per 100,000 (a 50% increase compared to 2012/13), with that being said, it is of vital importance that you are aware of your surroundings (situational awareness).
The second most common type of crime experienced is home robbery, with 238,000 incidents affecting 195,000 households in 2022/23.
According to crime statistics published by the South African Police Service in 2023, a vehicle is hijacked or stolen every 22 minutes another reason to be aware of your surroundings (situational awareness).
We as Aequitas Security Solutions give the following tips:
1) Always ask yourself “What if” … What If the car in front of me is full of criminals that will hijack me.
What if the guy sitting on my lawn is a scout for criminals…
What if the people sitting in a vehicle close to where I am parking are car thieves and steal my car once I have left it in the parking lot.
2) Situational awareness involves three elements which are observation, comprehension, and anticipation. You observe what is happening around you and take in all the elements of your environment. You comprehend the situation you are experiencing.
2.1) Observation: The difference between seeing and observing can be crucial for a security detail. Being able to observe properly, one will be capable of identifying any early risk exposures and thus take appropriate safety measures.
2.2) Comprehension: the perception of the elements in the environment within a volume of time and space, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their status in the near future.
2.3) Anticipation: Recognising potential threats early gives you a valuable head start so that you can take action and protect yourself. Anticipating what might happen next allows you to make informed decisions.