09/10/2026
💡RAG FRIDAY FACT
Did you know that eight out of 10 residential robberies are committed with the help of information from domestic workers and former employees?
This is according to research by Professor Rudolph Zinn of UNISA’s School of Criminal Justice and Police Practice, who conducted in-depth interviews with convicted criminals.
It is essential - for the safety of your family and home - to know who you are hiring and to do thorough background and security checks on any prospective domestic employee. The first precaution is to always get a recommendation or introduction to a prospective domestic worker from a trusted neighbour or friend. Get references; but they should not just be letters provided by the applicant. You should phone the references. If you can, look for them on social media platforms like Facebook, to check that they are who they claim to be, and are not just friends of the applicant. Ideally, when looking for a domestic worker, one should use a reputable, registered employment agency that vets all its job seekers, including doing security checks like obtaining a police clearance certificate.
For your own security and for the health and safety of your employees, you should always keep a copy of your domestic staff members’ identification documents and have details of their address and all their contact details, including their next of kin. If there is an accident or emergency while they are working, you need to know who to contact and how to reach them.
If you have a security incident at home, RAG recommends polygraphing domestic workers. We can give you advice and assistance.
