Security guards and domestic maids involving in criminal activities
Tips for Crime Prevention-Security guards and domestic maids involving in criminal activities
It is actually a shock when it comes to the light that the security guard, personal driver or domestic maids whom you trust as a family member is behind the crime or theft in your home.
In this day, an age of nuclear families and working couples, a large number of families rely of domestic helpers including house maids and nannies to take care of their various household chores. While the use of domestic helpers has been widespread in India from a long time, the influx of a large number of rural population in cites has increased the cases of crime being set up by domestic helpers and security guards. Also, the security guards are an indispensable part of apartment life.
Not every domestic helper or security guard is a criminal, but the rising number of cases means that one has to always doubt whether his/her security guards and domestic maids are involved in criminal activities. Let us take a look at some of the ways one can prevent crime or prevent security guards and domestic helps involving in criminal activities.
Do not keep valuables at home: Most crimes, including theft take place because domestic staff and security guards or personal drivers have easy access to valuable items including cash, gold and other valuables in home. Make it a point to always keep all valuable items away from your home to avoid any loss, even if there is a robbery or theft. You can also use banks services like safe deposit locker to keep your valuables.
Ensure safety check when hiring a domestic help: A lot of people use word of mouth guarantee of their friends and family members to hire a domestic maid and repent later. Hiring through the certified agencies makes sure that all background checks have been conducted for the domestic helper including security guards and other helpers. Most of the people coming from such agencies have a clean track record and offer genuine services without any worry of theft or crime. Make sure to ask the company what types of background checks they run and ask how the agency screens its candidates.
Domestic help police verification: There were a number of cases where house owners did not even have a photograph of their domestic help involved in the crime making the job of police much difficult to bring the criminals to justice. According to section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC), employers like recruitment in the private sector or apartment association have to ensure that they opt for character verification of new employees by the police. You have to get police verification done within 15 days. Submit duly filled form, recent photograph of domestic maid and the thumb impressions.
Install Security camera and security gadgets: There are a number of technologically advanced security mechanisms available in the market today. Make sure you have installed all such gadgets as per your individual needs to avoid any theft or crime. Security gadgets and close circuit CCTV cameras must be installed in places where the domestic helpers work alone for long hours. Make sure your domestic help is not aware of such electronic monitoring.
Neighbourhood Watch: With the cooperation of the people and neighbors a crime can be better prevented. Keeping aware of your immediate surroundings all the time is recommended to avoid any crime or mishap related to domestic helpers. If you notice any signs of an abnormal behavior with any of the domestic helpers or support staff either in your house or in your housing society, make sure to inform other members as a safety measure. Report suspicious individuals or vehicles in your housing society to the police.
