Tired of break-ins, residents fight back

RESIDENTS in Kimberley are taking proactive steps to protect their homes as a wave of break-ins continues to unsettle neighbourhoods across the city. In areas such as Kirstenhof and Riviera, homeowners are turning to private security partnerships to strengthen local safety, saying limited police visibility has left many feeling vulnerable.

- DANIE VAN DER LITH

Kirstenhof was among the first suburbs to act, partnering with Fidelity ADT Security to install live-monitored surveillance cameras at key access points. The system feeds directly into the company’s control centre, allowing for faster response times and visible patrols in the area.

Residents say that since the network went live, incidents of break-ins and burglary have dropped noticeably. “We were tired of living in fear and waiting for something to be done,” said one Kirstenhof resident. “The difference since the cameras went up has been remarkable; theft in the area has dropped a lot.”

ADT’s local operations team first conducts a detailed survey of each neighbourhood to determine how many households are needed for a viable roll-out. In Riviera, for instance, the first phase required at least 100 homes to come on board before installation could begin. Each installed pole carries two cameras facing different directions to maximise coverage, and the footage is live-monitored around the clock.

“The more households that join, the stronger the system becomes,” an ADT representative said. “Neighbourhoods that work together are seeing faster response times and fewer incidents.”

RIVIERA FOLLOWS SUIT

Encouraged by Kirstenhof's success, residents in Riviera have now begun installing their own camera network under a similar model. The roll-out includes multiple phases, each expanding coverage as more households participate.

ADT confirmed that the initiative includes both surveillance and increased patrols by armed-response officers, who are dispatched when alerts are triggered by the camera network.