Page 4 - FWG_Issue 2_March_2022

Security

PERSONAL SAFETY

– REMAIN ALERT

Officer of the Month
Personal safety is an important part of our daily lives. 24/7 Security
urges everyone to remain alert – especially when you eave Fourways
l
Gardens Estate.

We share some tips from Leo Prinsloo, who earned worldwide fame after footage of a failed
heist was published online last year.

Where you place your attention at any given moment is key to how well you can protect
yourself. The below awareness colour code helps to break down your attention level, and
what it means in terms of taking action.

WHITE: In this state, you are totally oblivious to everything that is happening
around you. You are probably checking your phone while you wait at a robot
or driving into your house, thinking about what you're going to do next. This is
extremely dangerous because it means that should you suddenly find yourself in danger,
you will not be prepared. Strictly speaking, you should never be in code white when you
are awake. Themba Mtshali

YELLOW: This is a state of relaxed awareness. It's the state you are in when you Our officer of the month is Themba
wake up: you are starting to become alert to the sounds of the day, like traffic Mtshali. The manner in which he
outside or dogs barking, but there are no noises or movements that register as assisted with storm damage, including
threats because they are out of the ordinary. You will stay in this state as you start to prepare walls that fell over during the storm, and
for the day, get dressed and take your car out of the driveway, at which point you need helped residents who suffered storm
to become more alert and watchful. Does anything strike you as unusual? Are there any damage was above the call of duty.
people or cars loitering or even moving towards you? If so, you need to move to the next We have also received gratitude from
state: Orange. residents who remark on his courteous
and professional manner when he
ORANGE: Now you are on alert. You're looking around with enough intent to start serves and assists them on a daily basis.
noticing specifics. If you've heard a strange noise, you are trying to find out where Thank you Themba, your contribution
it comes from. If you see someone walking towards you, you are trying to see to the estate is truly appreciated.
where their hands are.

RED: This is a decision-making state. You've ascertained that there is a threat and
gathered information about it. Now you need to decide how you are going to SEE SOMETHING,
handle it. Your decision-making process might look like this: you realise that you
are facing a possible hijacker because cars are blocking you. What is the best course of SAY SOMETHING:
action – should you try to take the hijackers by surprise by slamming on the brakes? Or Please report all security-
should you reverse your car so hard that you ram into the hijacker's car behind you, maybe
even jolting it out of the way? The action you decide to take will depend on what you are related matters immediately,
willing to do, your environment, and what you feel capable of. without delay.
A delay in reporting
BLACK: We consider this the point of no return. In this state, you are facing a = a delay in resolution.
violent attack, and you have to defend yourself in an equally violent yet controlled
manner in order to contain the threat. Violence can only be part of the solution if Onsite Control Contact details:
you are trained in this area, as it is as much a mental skill as a physical one. How you react to 011 465 5466 or
using violence to protect yourself and how far you are prepared to go will have a massive 076 200 5280
influence on the outcome of the situation.
Source with permission: Leo's Guide to Not Becoming a Statistic

Fourways Gardens • 2 • March 2022