Even as a demented arsonist has been brought to book, housefires remain on the rise. Fortunately, storing valuables and irreplaceables in a safe deposit box offers an added layer of protection for peace of mind.
Perhaps you’ve heard? A maniac has been on the loose on the leafy streets of Johannesburg’s northern suburbs. A serial arsonist, an old-school exhibitionist, a flame-throwing house breaker with a nihilist streak.
Over a period of two years, this mysterious individual started 16 separate fires in suburbs spanning Hyde Park, Rosebank, Benmore and Craighall Park, all of them in upmarket houses.
His MO was to put it mildly, peculiar. And frightening. He monitored his intended victims like a jungle predator surveying its prey. When the time was “ripe” he pounced, invading their homes in the early hours of the morning. He ate, drank, even cooked in their homes. He smeared tinned tomatoes on curtains and drank bottles of cider on rooftops. Sometimes he relieved himself on the floor.
Though relatively well-to-do, he clearly had a bugbear for the wealthy. He disarmed alarm systems with ease. He seldom stole. But he always burnt the place to the ground.
He was a Marvel supervillain come to life, a Joker without a Batman. Even with footage of him freely circulating, he continued to elude law enforcement.
Until now. Early this week, in a sting operation coordinated between CAP, Fidelity and a number of SAPS organisations, the arsonist was finally brought to book – while taking an evening stroll around Emmarentia.
The arsonist is now safely (we hope) in custody. But it’s not just arsonists we have to be wary of. Housefires as a whole are on rise, with 920 incidents reported this year alone – 439 fires in formal dwellings and 481 in informal settlements.
Fortunately, there is something to mitigate the fallout of an arson attack, or of any fire in your home.
Store your valuables, your keepsakes, and your important documents in a safety deposit box at Knox HQ.
Here’s the thing. While not totally immune to natural disasters, safe deposit boxes offer significant protection from fires, floods, explosions, and other catastrophes. They also protect their contents from theft, unauthorised use, and many other unforeseen threats.
In particular, we at Knox invest in the latest fire-suppression technology, and our ability to withstand catastrophic events is superior to a home safe. Our deposit boxes are as strong as they come, and to a significant degree, protect your valuables from all the elements.
“While not completely fire-proof, we at Knox offer an added layer of protection you simply won’t get in a home safe, even a fireproof safe,” says Knox’s Founder. “Our fire suppression systems are world-class, and our level of security is unsurpassed in the industry.
Housefires, whether accidental or criminally instigated, are a major threat.
“Fires often originate in the home kitchen, and we are scrupulous about keeping our premises secure from fire hazards,” says Knox’s Founder.
And there’s another, crucial point to consider: “By placing your valuable items in a safety deposit box, and not in your home, you wouldn’t need to focus on retrieving them before getting out of the house if the unthinkable happens and a fire does occur.”
Enjoy the peace of mind knowing that your cherished memories – your photo albums and family videos – are protected. Keep your invaluable heirlooms out of harm’s way. Ensure your valuables and irreplaceables are locked away safe and sound – and that in the tragic instance of your house burning down, you can at least retrieve your most important papers.
And you don’t have to start your life again completely from scratch.
Call Knox today to find out more about our industry-leading secure storage solutions.
