#HowSafeAreYou: We worry all the time, are we well prepared?

As a mother of two and the eldest daughter-in-law, I have always been worried about the safety of my family. My in-laws live alone and we live in a nuclear family. Installing CCTVs is one way of tightening security but is it enough?

Godrej Locking Solutions and Systems invited a few bloggers and me for a discussion while launching its novel campaign #HowSafeAreYou to raise awareness on home safety.  by releasing a series of three videos that ‘unlocks the mind of a robber’.  Here are the videos:

Video 1: Former robber, Gulab Rakshe says: “A robber will rob despite all odds. Watch his claims shatter as he examines a Godrej lock.”

Video 2: Reformed robber, Girish Kumar says that a robber won’t hesitate to kill the victim in order to save his own life. Watch his reaction as he tries a Godrej lock.

Video 3: Ex-robber, Som Pashar narrates his modus operandi. Hearing him was a spine-chilling experience. Watch his reaction as he encounters a Godrej lock.

These videos made me realize how easy it is for a seasoned robber to break into my haven and cause harm. To save a few rupees, we end up buying cheaper locks without thinking of the consequences.
Armed with these thoughts, I visited the launch event. Urging homebuyers to be proactive in their approach to safety, the company had announced 15^th November to be observed as ‘Home Safety Day’ in India.

Dr. Kaminidevi Bhoir, Honorary Psychiatric Counsellor for Mumbai Police, Vivek Agrawal, veteran crime journalist and author, Shyam Motwani, EVP and Head of Business – Godrej Locking Solutions and Systems, Prakash N. Borgaonkar, Western Region Head of HelpAge India and a victim of theft over the psyche of a robber.

It was invigorating to witness the panel discussion featuring Dr. Kaminidevi Bhoir, Honorary Psychiatric Counsellor for Mumbai Police, Vivek Agrawal, veteran crime journalist and author, Shyam Motwani, EVP and Head of Business – Godrej Locking Solutions and Systems, Prakash N. Borgaonkar, Western Region Head of HelpAge India and a victim of theft.

The panel made the attendees aware that home-owners must be mindful of the safety level provided by a builder for a new project. Each person in the room of over 100 people, supported this view. The audience included mothers, working parents, and senior citizens.

Commenting on the #HowSafeAreYou campaign, Shyam Motwani, Executive VP & Head of Business, Godrej Locking Solutions and Systems said, “Preparedness is the key. One of the primary rules of defense is to understand the enemy. Even the best offense tactic only works if you know the weakness of the opponent. Crime has been a part of the society for eons. Over the years, it has transformed and become more non-predictive, gruesome, and even the robbers have become more prepared and planned in their modus operandi. It is therefore important that as responsible citizens we are prepared to tackle such unforeseen circumstances.”

Motwani highlighted that “While the police and government have been trying their best to curtail crimes, it is equally the responsibility of the citizens to help police curb crime as well as take appropriate measures to prevent them. With this digital video, we are creating awareness in the minds of the citizens and helping them stay safe.”

 Speaking during the panel discussion, Kamini Devi Bhoir, honorary psychiatric counselor for the Mumbai Police, said, “A robber or a thief is somebody who has the urge to steal. This act of robbery is a disease and is called kleptomania. Kleptomania is associated with impulse control disorder, where you get an impulse to do a particular thing and you cannot stop it and you go ahead and commit the act, without thinking of its consequences. A robber has no conscience while committing such an act.”

Prakash N. Borgaonkar, Western Region Head of HelpAge India, highlighted the fact that most victims of robberies tend to be senior citizens. “Senior citizens in today’s society are the victims of loneliness. They have nobody to talk to and are often isolated by family, which is why they let anybody into their homes just for the sake of conversation, and become a soft target. They do not understand that they are inviting danger into their homes,” he said.

Godrej Locking Solutions and Systems is a 120-year-old leading manufacturer of innovative locking devices. Since its inception in 1897 by Ardeshir Godrej, the name ‘Godrej’ has become synonymous with trust, protection, and integrity. They adhere to global quality norms and hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications. For more information, please log on to www.godrejlocks.com.

I left the session with a mission to spread the word towards personal and family safety. Godrej is a brand that we all grew up with. For us, it is synonymous with safety and security. With this post, I want every reader to understand that behaving penny-wise and pound foolish in the case of personal safety can be dangerous.

Penned by: Mayura Amarkant

This is my 20th post in the Dil Se series. Click here to read the rest.