This is how criminals get through electric fences

Electric fences are not impenetrable and South Africans should be aware of the methods criminals use to bypass this widely-used security measure. MyBroadband recently spoke to Fidelity CEO Wahl Bartmann and Bull Security operations manager French Jooste about how criminals circumvent electric fences and what could be done to stop them.

Jooste said the most popular technique for getting through electric fences was a so-called “V stick”. Criminals will insert this stick underneath the electric wires to lift the wires away from the wall, creating a small space to climb through,” Jooste said. In some instances, though not so regular, we find that they will bend the fence downward away from the wall.

Jooste also said Bull Security had seen a few incidents where robbers had broken the solid brick wall or palisades underneath the electric fencing to gain access to properties.
Bartmann elaborated more on some of the other most common methods, which include:

Opening a gap in the fence using conduit pipes to lift the wires without touching each other.
Slipping conduit pipes with a slit cut along their length over the wires so that they are isolated from each other.
Climbing over at wall corners or by using steps on the wall.
Cutting the fence at more than one place at the same time.
Isolating part of the fence using high tension cables, then cutting the wires between them.
Bartmann said the main reason why these tactics work is because the electric fence may not be pulled taught enough, not properly installed or maintained, or had a weak design.

“An electric fence should be checked regularly for damage to the insulation, the earth loops and connections, to ensure it is working correctly,” Bartmann stated.
To avoid your fence being bypassed using one of the tactics above, Bartmann explained there were a few key points to consider during installation:

Resistance — Use low-resistance wiring like aluminium. Aim for under 500 ohms per energiser.
Height — If a wall allows for a foothold, the fence should be higher than 800mm.
Zone numbers — Reducing the fence length per energiser zone allows security companies to find the point of penetration faster.
Lifespans — Low-end fencing lasts five years, premium fencing lasts ten years.
Wall characteristics — A wall should only have a few steps, be more than 2 metres high, and consist of a double row of bricks.
Choice of installer — Get a consultant to write a technical specification for the fence and send this to several electric fence installers that operate in your area. Ensure the installer is properly registered to issue a Certificate of Compliance.
Bartmann added that spikes can be installed on top of the wall to make it harder to slip under the fence.
Jooste further advised that the fence must be connected to an alarm so that it can send a signal to your security company if it is cut, damaged, or opened up.

A beam and camera system linked to your phone and security company can also be helpful. Bartmann recommended a smart analytics camera.

“This acts as a digital perimeter fence. The camera learns what is normal behaviour and also can alert security companies, residents or business owners to any activity that crosses a specific line,” Bartmann said. For instance, if someone or something enters the warning area, an alert is sent. If someone crosses into the no-go area, the alarm is sounded, and resources are dispatched.

In other news – Mampintsha’s mum warns her son and Babes Wodumo of a curse

After the Uthando Lodumo reality stars announced they’d be releasing a song titled Sponge Wodumo, Mampintsha’s mum Zama Gumede warned them against it.

She said if they continued to make fun of her, they were asking for a curse. Learn more

Source: mybroadband

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