DataDots for Home and Business
- What are DataDots for Home and Business?
- Why do you need DataDot?
- What do you do?
- What can be marked with DataDot?
- How will the police trace owners of marked items?
- Some Interesting Statistics On Residential Robberies
What are DataDots for Home and Business?
DataDots are tiny plastic or metallic discs. They are almost invisible to the naked eye – especially when applied to dark surfaces. Each disc – or DataDot – is laser-etched with a PIN (Pre-determined Identification Number). This PIN is allocated to you and remains yours for the rest of your life.
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Why do you need DataDot?
Thieves avoid well-marked possessions and assets. Theft is mostly a commercial crime – in other words thieves steal goods to sell them. By simply applying DataDots to your possessions and warning the thieves that your home or business is well marked – you will discourage theft. Why? The thieves will struggle to sell these items because the items can be traced back to the owner and used as evidence by the police. Possession of stolen goods is a crime.
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What do you do?
DataDots are quick and easy to apply. They are supplied with a specially developed adhesive which dries to a hard clear finish. Simple directions for use are included in the Kit. The Kit also contains an asset register or inventory list which can be used in conjunction with downloadable free software. Registering your name, ID number and telephone number helps the police contact you if necessary.
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What can be marked with DataDot?
Bicycles, computers, printers, DVD players, cellular phones, sports equipment, fridges, firearms, antiques, artwork, etc. In fact, most valuables and business equipment items can be successfully marked with DataDot.
NB – motor vehicles have to be marked at authorised fitment centres. Please refer to the Vehicle Installations Section
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How will the police trace owners of marked items?
The unique PIN is registered on our database. The police have 24/7 access to this information. Special viewers available at every police station enable them to read the PIN on the DataDot.
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Some Interesting Statistics On Residential Robberies:
Dr. Rudolph Zinn of the School of Criminal Justice at UNISA did intensive research on residential robberies and attacks, and interviewed many arrested and convicted robbers.
- During the past year, house robberies increased by 13,5%.
- Of the almost 15 000 residential robberies committed in 2008, half (50%) took place in Gauteng.
- The average age of a house robber is between 19 and 26 years.
- An average of 30% of all house robbers have either committed murder, or won't hesitate to commit murder.
- Only 17% of house robbers are foreigners.
- Of all arrested robbers, 90% had no matric or were unemployed. The 10% who had been employed, gave up their jobs when confirming how much they could "earn" from a robbery.
- Most victims or targets are affluent persons who openly display their wealth, e.g. expensive cars, jewellery, upmarket homes.
- Much intelligence is gathered about the target home and its residents by means of inside information supplied by domestic workers.
- Eight out of ten residential robberies are committed with the help of information from domestic workers, gardeners and former employees.
- The robbers will monitor the home and movements for as long as is needed to formulate a plan of attack - sometimes up to two weeks.
- All gangs research and monitor the response times of armed response companies.
- Most attacks occur between 19:00 and midnight as people are relaxed, busy cooking or watching TV, and the security systems and beams are not activated. But robberies continue until 04:00 in the morning.
- The biggest deterrent confirmed by robbers themselves, are small dogs that are kept inside the home.
- Alarm systems and armed reaction services are not considered a deterrent. Electric fences, closed-circuit TV (CCTV) and detection beams do, however, deter robbers.
- An average of R5 000 is stolen during each robbery.
- Surprisingly, victims of house robberies are only seriously injured in 2% of all incidents.
- 35% of robbers robbed for basic needs (hunger, poverty), while 65% enjoyed the money and spent it on clothes, cars, etc.
- The average robber commits 103 robberies over seven years before being caught.
- A staggering 97% of all robbers are armed, and on average there are four members in an armed robbery gang.
- Most attackers' homes or bases are a 10 to 30 minute drive from the target address.
- Women are more often tortured or hurt during house robberies.
- The conviction rate for house robberies in South Africa is only 7,67%. In the USA it is 53%.
