More criminals target home, disable surveillance

Criminals in Nairobi are increasingly targeting residential and commercial premises, gaining access by tampering with or completely disabling security systems.

"Thirty one percent of the crime we have recorded over the past four months in Nairobi happened in residential areas and a further 26 percent happened in commercial premises," James Nicholl, general manager of Security and Sustainability at Securex Agencies said.

Some of them tamper with the wiring of CCTV surveillance, or even physically attempt to turn cameras away from scene of crime.

Statistics from Secures Security Company show that incidents where thugs steal manual panic alarm buttons and security guards’ uniforms are equally on the rise.

"In some cases the criminals go as far as to steal panic alarm buttons from private security guards at premises neighbouring their actual target, so that they reduce the risk of encountering a Mobile Response Team as they escape," Mr Nicholl added.

On May 5, 2016, a suspected intruder was arrested by a response team after he was found tampering with CCTV wires on the rooftop of a residence in Runda. This was the second attempt to disable the surveillance system.

In another incident, on the same day, a private security guard was injured after he was waylaid by a gang of five men while on his way to work in Mlolongo.

The thugs claimed he was the reason why they could not break into an industrial company he was manning.

Additionally on March 26, three thugs - armed with pistols - raided a residential court on Shanzu Road and tied up the private security guards.

One of the intruders dressed up in the guard's uniform and proceeded to a house where he attempted to gain entry by asking the owner for drinking water; after being spooked he refused to let him in and raised alarm forcing them to flee.

Mr Nicholl said the most effective way of mitigating crime is by embracing integrated security systems, which enables one have more comprehensive cover against theft and intrusion.

“With the incident in Runda for instance, the house owner had an electric fence and a panic alarm button alongside the CCTV system. The intruder, unknowingly, tripped the electric fence alarm and the owner activated the panic button that notified the response team leading to the thug's apprehension” he said.

He also noted that co-operation between security firms and police continues to bear fruit in crime-fighting.