I had the most disconcerting experience today.
As I came home, the Chubb security vehicle was parked across the road from my home. The guard was busy talking to two burley men who were clearly quite suspect. Thinking that I was safe as the security guard was there, I stopped my vehicle behind the Chubb vehicle, got out and proceeded to open my garage to park my car, but just as I was closing the garage again, the two men were right behind me – and the Chubb vehicle was nowhere to be seen!!
The men proceeded to start harassing me for a job/money, until a kind gentleman (and I mean this in every sense of the word) stopped in the road, making it obvious that he was keeping an eye on the situation. When the men saw this, they quickly walked off. The gentleman asked me if I was ok and only left when I was safely inside my property.
My point is this: Generally, I am quite cautious. Had the Chubb vehicle not been there, I would not have climbed out of my car until such time as the two men had left. The security guard cannot claim he did not see me (I actually greeted him), but did not bother to stick around until such time as he was sure I was safe, and had that kind gentleman not stopped, who knows what would have happened to me. I do know that I was genuinely uncomfortable and felt truly threatened. I had to close the garage door, hang onto my handbag for dear life and attend to two very demanding men at the same time.
Next time, I will know not to trust the presence of the security guards to protect me. I will just drive around the block until such time as the guard and whomever he was having a chat with are gone. The security guards are not there to protect you, but only to give you a false sense of security.
To the gentleman who stopped to make sure I was ok – Thank you. I am sure your presence made a huge difference to the outcome of the situation. We need more people like you who would be prepared to give a minute or two of their time, just to keep an eye on your neighbour. You were marvellous.
(Supplied by a resident who asked to remain anonymous.)
1 user commented in " False Sense of Security "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackA security guard is only as good as his training and inherent aptitude dictate. Is the average security guard in SA sufficiently able to recognise risk? I had a nasty experience, too, after the security guard had chatted to and directed the perpetrator to my house!! Another time when my numbers were nicked off my wall within the space of an hour, the guard stationed on the island (directly opposite some building works at the time) swore blind not one single pedestrian had walked past him all morning in either direction. I don’t mind losing my brass numbers too much, but don’t feel particularly safe with a blind security guard. Friends ridicule the ‘security’ as they either drive straight through or get asked stupid questions which make the guards appear more than a few peanuts short of a packet. Since I cancelled my membership of my local scheme the guards have taken to popping slips into my letter box telling me all is in order. Well, I’m not sure how they could possibly know if something wasn’t – they wouldn’t have a clue. I’ve watched the guard ride past on his bicycle, glance at my frontage and pop a slip into my box…. Don’t get me wrong, I find the guards to be very friendly and like those I’ve come to know very much (they’d wanted to buy my old car). I also liked the blind one – he had been one of my favourites as he had seemed so on the ball. Fact remains: security is a highly specialised field, uniforms can be very deceiving and a guard is only as good as his training and own aptitude dictate. Rely on guards? By all means, but just realise that they, too, are just humans and not Robocop. Hey, can’t we recruit Vernon Koekemoer? Now there’s a scary fella
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