Spike in violent house robberies in Joburg

Cius

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Jan 20, 2009
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All I can say is to stay away from ADT! I had a burglary going and we contacted ADT and they are still coming. The obvious thing to do then, is to let them go!
We just changed security companies at our complex with one of the main reason's being they partnered with ADT for response. We had a robbery and it took ADT 40 min to rock up, the cops were there after about 12m. We have switched to a local company that actually has presence in the area. Heard of too many people who were robbed while being on ADT and not being happy with responses. Also if you cancel with them then you seem to be very quickly robbed after dropping them. I am convinced the bigger security companies are heavily infiltrated by robbery gangs.
 

Sinbad

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Jun 5, 2006
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I had a robbery 6 years ago. The only way they could have got in was via the keypad. I was with adt then as well.
 

supersunbird

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Oct 1, 2005
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Name and shame. ADT is often mentioned in CPT as the worst.

Don't want to get threatened by legal action lol.

Anyway, one thing one must look at is how often (if one isn't some hermit) one sees whichever providers vehicles in your area when you are out and about. It doesn't make sense if everyone around you is Provider X and Y and you see their vehicles more than once a week, often driving/parked around in area, and you go with Provider Z because of the super great price (but you might be lucky to see their vehicle in area once a month) and it takes 20 minutes for a vehicle to respond.

FADT can sometimes arrive in 2 minutes in my area, generally about 5 min if I have to guess. The 2 other main providers are also in the 5 minute ball park.
 

pinball wizard

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In my case thieves dressed up as contractors (complete with branded overalls, clipboards and measuring tape) and convinced domestic that they were sent by me. When she said she was going to phone me to confirm, they pretended to phone me.

How in this day and age is this still a thing?
 

supersunbird

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Wait, what? ADT has their client's keypad pin-codes stored in a database somewhere!?

How is my pin-code any of their business? Security 101: never give anyone your access credentials - no matter how good the intentions are.

Well, how do you expect them to open the gate (to go around your house to check that there is no burglary if alarm triggered, or that you are not being robbed after your have pressed the panic button) unless they have the gates keypad pin?

Must they jump your high wall/fence topped with whatever? :unsure:
 

Temujin

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Well, how do you expect them to open the gate (to go around your house to check that there is no burglary if alarm triggered, or that you are not being robbed after your have pressed the panic button) unless they have the gates keypad pin?

Must they jump your high wall/fence topped with whatever? :unsure:
For starters, it shouldn't be available to staff all willynilly like... should be secure, only available if the alarm is triggered, at which point, once used is no longer valid and needs to be changed... at no point should anyone be able to just have access to them when they feel like it, system shouldn't allow it, ever
 
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supersunbird

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For starters, it shouldn't be available to staff all willynilly like... should be secure, only available if the alarm is triggered, at which point, once used is no longer valid and needs to be changed... at no point should anyone be able to just have access to them when they feel like it, system shouldn't allow it, ever

It isn't, and they are mos looking at now implementing a OTP system, since the customers don't seem to change it after an alarm event themselves.

EDIT: But I still want to know how @sgs thinks they must enter the premises, or maybe happy with a note stuck to gate "we were here and all looked fine from the street".
 
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LightningSux

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Jan 13, 2009
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141
Wait, what? ADT has their client's keypad pin-codes stored in a database somewhere!?

How is my pin-code any of their business? Security 101: never give anyone your access credentials - no matter how good the intentions are.

Or the keypads have a bypass / backdoor PIN, similar to hotel safes?
 

Gaz{M}

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Feb 9, 2005
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Build your own alarm system. Don't ever get it from the same company that does armed response for you. Don't ever sign up for a 36 month contract with free alarm system. They are useless.

Rather start building your own system from scratch, even a basic system for less than 3 grand and add to it as money is available.
 

supersunbird

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Oct 1, 2005
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Build your own alarm system. Don't ever get it from the same company that does armed response for you. Don't ever sign up for a 36 month contract with free alarm system. They are useless.

Rather start building your own system from scratch, even a basic system for less than 3 grand and add to it as money is available.

Agree with post.

And solution for access of premises (opening of a gate) by armed response employees, like this thread is about?
 

Gaz{M}

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Feb 9, 2005
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Agree with post.

And solution for access of premises (opening of a gate) by armed response employees, like this thread is about?

I suppose it depends on your particular physical security barriers. They can hop the wall if needed. I've seen them carry ladders. Or have a different code for the access gate? But then you need garden beams to pre-warn you if you are at home.
 
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