PERSONAL SAFETY

1 Going out? Make travel plans
If going out for an evening, make sure you have travel plans in place to and from your venue, especially if you plan to be drinking or the location is unfamiliar. Take a taxi or a security trained driver who can plan your route  and ensure you get home safely at the end of the night.

2 Share your location with family or friends
Share your location and travel route with your family or a friend. If your children are going out ask them to share their location with you too. If going to a busy event with young children, use Apple AirTags in their bag or clothes and take a quick picture of them on your phone as you leave the house. If you are separated from your curious toddler, it will help staff at your location find them.

3 Shop safely
If you are planning a high-value shopping trip, consider taking a personal security officer with you. If you’ve just bought a luxury handbag, watch or piece of jewellery, don’t advertise the fact. Use a non-branded bag when taking your purchase home or utilise shop and collection services.

4 Wear high value jewellery and watches on arrival
If you plan to wear your watch or jewellery for the evening or to a special function, consider putting the items on when you arrive or taking a taxi or driver who can drop you directly at the door. This reduces the chance of a spotter or criminals committing the crime. If you’re walking to the venue, use a protective pouch and place the items in your pocket or bag. You can read our journal on watch crime here for more advice.

5 Be vigilant when you’re out
Criminals work in groups, often with three people who operate on pedal bikes or mopeds.  Criminals may use spotters to identify people wearing valuable watches or those vulnerable to phone snatching. Stay vigilant for groups around you, following you or loitering at corners. If you sense you are at risk, quickly move to a heavily populated area and seek assistance from police or security. There have also been instances of criminals following a victim to their home. If you believe you are being followed, call your estate security to meet you or contact the police.

6 Be discreet on social media
Avoid tagging your whereabouts on social media, especially with your watch, handbag or gifts in view. Instead, wait until you have left the area before posting. Make it clear to friends and family that you would prefer not to be tagged in their live posts too.

7 Handover valuables
Ultimately, a watch or piece of jewellery is not worth getting injured for. If you are unfortunate enough to be a victim, we always recommend handing over items without a struggle.

8 Safe exercise
We all like to keep our steps up over the indulgent Christmas period, but if you are going for a walk or run stick to well-lit and well populated areas. Again, sharing your location and route with a loved one.

AVOID PHONE SNATCHING

1 Stay vigilant
As mentioned above, criminal gangs work in groups, often utilising mopeds or e-scooters and sticky gloves to make a swift crime and easy get away. . Groups may also target cafes, one will distract within the café while another gang member quickly takes phones left on tables.

2 Move to a safe place
If you are suspicious of anyone, please place your phone away securely in your pocket or bag where is it out of sight. Consider entering a public area like a shop or office building where they cannot take their bikes.

3 Think about when and where you use your phone:
Do I need to use my phone in a public place? Can it wait? If not, try to find an area or location that makes you less vulnerable; enter a building, walk up some stairs and away from street level. This will make you less of a target.

4 Keep your phone out of sight when not in use
Once you have used your phone, place it out of sight.

5 Use your phone settings
Save your IMEI number (you’ll need this if stolen): Settings > General > About. Turn on ‘Stolen Device Protection’: Settings > Face ID & Passcode > ‘Stolen Device Protection’ and set this to ‘always’ (this means that if your phone is stolen, the thief can’t change your passwords when away from your home, even if they know your passcode).

HOME SECURITY

1 Set your alarm, even when home
Remember to set you alarm whenever you leave the house, even for short periods. Make sure you set your perimeter alarm once you know you are in for the evening. When retiring for the night, please use your night mode or part set.

2 Leave a light on
Having lights on timers or leaving a light on when you go out gives the impression someone may be home and is a deterrent to criminals. Outdoor lighting is great deterrent too as criminals do not like to be seen.

3 Call the Response Centre anytime
The Knight Protection Response Centre is manned 24/7, including Christmas day. If you see anything suspicious, feel unsafe or would like security advice please call them anytime over the Christmas period and they will be happy to help.

4 Let us know if you are away
If you are planning to be away for Christmas and we monitor your alarm and CCTV, let us know and we can carry out additional checks of your property and be alert for any suspicious activity.

5 Lock away gardens tools and furniture
Criminals will utilise anything they can to gain entry to your home so make sure that garden tools and furniture are locked away.

6 Secure and insure
Make sure your valuable items are adequately insured, that you are covered for wearing watches and jewellery outside the home and secure items in a professionally installed and graded safe approved by your insurers.