Enhancing Security – some ideas at the household level

Some 25 Ashiana Utsav residents met on 22^nd 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 18^th 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 18^th 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.