Some 25 Ashiana Utsav residents met on 22nd Nov 2012, to discuss ‘Enhancing Security – some ideas at
the household level’.
The discussion was organized
in the light of thefts in Gulmohar and attempt to burgle in Rangoli on 18th
Nov, 2012. Simmilar burglaries and thefts had taken place in several Ashiana
complexes in Bhiwadi in 2009, 2010, 2001 and now in 2012. The flats targeted in
2011 & 2012 were those that were alone on their floor (meaning no flat in
the vicinity was occupied). Nearly all targeted flats had padlocks hanging on
the outside of the door, thus signifying to a passer-by that no one was home.
Nearly all thefts were in the day time, and on weekends. While VML must look to
see how to plug loopholes in the colony security, households must also improve
their own security measures.
1.
Developing an
alertness to security
We must not leave our safety
only on the security - we should be alert about it ourselves. It was a question
of inculcating a mental framework of preparedness. Some people went so far as
to keep an iron bar or a pepper spray handy though ofcourse it was not
necessary for everyone to take such measures.
2.
Improving grills
and gates
Grills in Utsav are rightly
part of the wall framework, and not just screwed into window-frames the way
they can be found in independent housing. Nevertheless there is about a 6 inch
gap in window grills through which it may be easy to put one’s hand in and
remove cash, jewellery or electronics through an open window on the ground
floor. Such owners may consult VML to install additional bars that disallow the
putting of a hand inside the room from outside.
More importantly, not having
bars in bathroom windows constitutes an unacceptable risk. Not only that, there
are climbing bars within shafts going right past the bathroom windows. This is
a design flaw. VML must put bars in all Utsav bathrooms.
3.
More secure locks
Looking at the trend in
burglaries, it does seem like padlocks should be avoided – as not just the
locks, but even the kari and kunda were vulnerable to being forced open
relatively easily. Fitted locks which showed only a keyhole on the outside of
the door were less vulnerable to attack. They also held the door more closely
to the frame of the door, giving less opportunity for crowbars or screwdrivers
to be inserted. One may consider installing more than one lock on the entry
door. In such cases the second lock should preferably be on another side of the
door (top or bottom) to hold the door even more closely to the door frame.
The fitted locks should have
as long a bolt (the part that goes into the door frame) as possible. For e.g.,
the ‘latch-lock’ (also called ‘central lock’ by some people) of the rangoli
house on which the burglary attempt was made, was forced open by the intruders
by hitting the door near the lock repeatedly, as the bolt was only half-inch
long. However they could not force open the ‘shutter lock’ or ‘grill lock’that
had a 1.5 inch bolt which went into the ground at the bottom of the door.
The lock should be of strong
make so it would not loosen up and give way to a few blows. As maids or other
household staff could easily access flat keys and take key impression on a soap
bar for later duplication, households could consider installing ‘Ultra’ fitted
‘central’ locks, whose keys cannot be duplicated. Such locks are manufactured
by Godrej, Europa and Link, but are expensive (around Rs. 1500 and above). The
keys of the cheaper grill lock (Rs. 500-600) manufactured by Godrej also cannot
be duplicated, according to the company.
4.
More secure
wardrobes
Wooden wardrobes while being
prettier, may be more vulnerable to being broken into by intruders. Ultra locks
for wooden wardrobes and drawers are available from Europa. Steel almirahs of
thick gauge may be more resistant to being forced open. Good quality locks for steel
almirah doors and their lockers are available from Kishan Lal and Vishal,
famous lockmakers of Chandni Chowk. Keys for almirahs must not be left
unattended at the home when occupants are out – it was this that allowed easy
access to valuables for intruders who broke into a Gulmohar flat on 18th
Nov.
5.
Safes and Lockers
Most people now do keep
valuables in bank lockers. Nevertheless there are occasions when there may be
some cash, jewellery and expensive electronic items such as laptops and cameras
at home. There may be important documents for safekeeping as well, such as
ownership papers of properties, insurance documents or wills. Some households
may consider investing in household safes that can be placed inside existing
wardrobes. Safes can have key access, or number pad access or both. Some safes
may be fireproof and drill proof too. Prices of Safes maybe from Rs. 7000-15000
or so, and are available from Godrej.
6.
Security
vis-à-vis household staff
When employing maids,
housekeepers, caregivers, drivers, etc., employers must keep photocopies of
more than one ID proofs. Proofs such as PAN cards or driving liscences could
more easily be made for a false address. But voter cards, ration cards,
passports, bank acocunts, LIC policies or electricity meters could not so
easily be falsified. The original voter card of an employee could also be
retained with the employer if they had the run of the house and were left in charge.
Photographs, fingerprints, village addresses, phone contacts of family and
friends, must also be maintained, even after an employee had left employment.
Such measurers discourage the few candidates with questionable intentions from
taking up employment with such an employer.
7.
Enhancing
security in partnership with our neighbours
It would be advisable for
each household to select atleast one more household with whom they have a
collaborative security / emergency arrangement. They could request each other
to keep an eye on the other’s flat during travel. Some outside cleaning could
be taken care of so that a passerby should not get the impression that the flat
was locked. Even electronic remote bells could be mutually exchanged to be
pressed in an emergency.
8.
Playing a role in
improving the colony security
Do politely ask who a
stranger has come to meet when you spot one in the colony. If guards are
careless, be prompt in getting their name and writing a complaint in the common
complaints register at the maintenance room, which can be accessed 24 hrs over
intercom, or in person. Some one-fourth of households had still not installed
intercoms which made communication with the main gate and maintenance room
difficult. Guards could not easily ask such households whether a visitor
claiming to have come for their flat was welcome in or not.
9.
Safer during
travel
Sometimes suitcases can get
mixed up with others or a thief may walk off with one’s belongings pretending
they look like his own. For this reason, it may be a good idea to boldly put
one’s name on the suitcase. Valuables can be carried in sling bags slung close
to the body or in waistbags tied around the waist. Most of us already carry
chains along to tie suitcases to berths for long train journeys. Lastly,
carrying mobiles during travel was also a necessary aid in emergencies.
10.
Role of VML
While all the above measures
were necessary for households to take, residents were concerned that despite
complaints for years, VML did not appear to take its security role seriously :
a.
Lax guards and
supervisors were not monitored by VML staff despite many complaints.
b.
ID proofs of
Casual labourers for private garden cleaning and other tasks were not being
taken.
c.
There was no
proper oversight by VML to investigate the loopholes that allowed thefts to
take place.
