Staying secure during power cuts and load shedding

Why outages raise security risk

When the power goes off, streets go dark and many security systems quietly stop working. People also behave differently: gates are left open, doors are propped and people are distracted by candles or generators.

That does not mean a crime wave follows every outage. It means the weak points are easier to find, so it makes sense to prepare for them before the next one.

Check what stops when the power stops

Make a list of every system that needs mains power. Then mark whether each one has a battery or other backup, and for how long it will last. The answer is often surprising.

Typical items are the alarm panel and siren, the electric fence energiser, the gate or garage motor, the intercom, CCTV recorders, the router and fibre box (ONT) that send camera footage to your phone, and outside lights.

• Alarm panel: has a backup battery, which wears out over time.
• Electric fence energiser: needs its own battery or a UPS.
• Gate and garage motors: need a battery kit or a manual release you know how to use.
• Cameras, router and fibre box (ONT): the fibre box needs backup power as well as the router, and a small UPS can keep both going for hours.
• Lighting: rechargeable or solar lights at entrances.

Batteries and backup power

Batteries do not last forever. If an alarm or gate battery is several years old, it may no longer hold a charge long enough to matter. Ask your installer to test it under load instead of just checking that the panel light is on.

A small UPS or inverter for the router, fibre box, camera recorder and alarm is often a better investment than a large generator. If you do use a generator, keep it outside, away from windows and doors, because the fumes are dangerous. Lock it or chain it down so it cannot walk off.

Gates and access during an outage

A gate that will not close is an open door. Learn the manual release on your gate motor and practise closing and locking it by hand. Make sure everyone in the house knows how.

At night, avoid waiting at a dark gate with your window open. Check the street before you turn in, keep the car doors locked, and let someone inside know you are arriving. If your gate sometimes fails open, tell your installer; it can usually be fixed.

Lighting and routines in the dark

Rechargeable torches and lanterns beat candles for both safety and fire risk. Keep one by each door and one in the bedroom. Use motion-sensor lights with their own battery or solar panel on the outside.

Keep your phone charged, and keep a power bank full. Mobile networks can drop during long outages, so do not rely on your phone alone: keep a written list of key numbers. Agree a plan with neighbours or your street WhatsApp group: who checks the gate, who calls whom, and what you will do if something looks wrong.

• Charge phones, torches and power banks before a scheduled outage.
• Close and lock the gate, doors and windows before dusk.
• Do not open the door to strangers because the doorbell is dead.
• Keep candles away from curtains and never leave them unattended.

Guards, complexes and neighbourhood watches

If you pay for guards or live in a complex, ask what the outage plan is. Do the guards have torches, charged radios and a way to open a gate by hand? Is there a procedure for visitors when the intercom is down?

Good providers plan for outages as a normal event, not an emergency. It is reasonable to ask for the plan in writing.

Common mistakes in the dark

Some habits feel sensible in the dark but raise risk. Leaving the gate open 'just until the power comes back' is the most common. Another is relying on a phone torch, which drains the battery you may need to call someone.

Others are testing backups only when the lights go out, and running a generator in the garage or a closed room. Do your tests on a sunny afternoon, with the family watching, so the first time is not the night it matters. Write the steps on a card by the gate release so a visitor, a child or a house sitter can follow them. Also ask your neighbours how their gates cope, because a weak spot on one property affects the whole street.

A simple checklist

Go through this list before the next outage.

• I know which systems need mains power and which have backup.
• Alarm, fence and gate batteries have been tested recently.
• I know how to release and lock my gate by hand.
• Torches, lanterns and a power bank are charged and easy to find.
• Generator or inverter is outdoors or safely installed and secured.
• Neighbours and family know the plan and each other's numbers.

Questions people ask

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