Criminals are always on the lookout for easy opportunities, and experts have warned that solar panels and gas bottles are among the top on the list of items being stolen from properties in South Africa.
Guardian Eye managing director Rodney Taylor has warned that organised criminal syndicates are targeting solar installations in South Africa.
In an interview with Cape Talk, Taylor explained that rooftop solar systems were highly valuable and easily accessible to criminals.
“There’s always going to be the opportunity for people to look at opportunities to steal the panels,” he said.
Taylor added that criminals will also target solar systems’ lithium-ion batteries due to their high asking price, and he believes that organised groups target household solar systems.
“Your outlying areas are still very high targets. It’s the outlying areas where it’s very difficult to protect these assets.”
Along with the demand for solar panels among criminals, other items such as gas bottles are also being targeted.
Bull Security spokesperson French Jooste said that break-ins, theft, and vandalism continued to target both homes and businesses in South Africa.
Gas bottles and exterior lighting, including floodlights and solar-powered outdoor lights, are increasingly targeted because they can be quickly detached and carried away.
The bottles are easily resold or used for illegal activities. “Restaurants, homes with outdoor cylinders, and small businesses are particularly vulnerable,” Jooste said.
Fidelity ADT previously noted that criminals may use the gas bottles themselves for domestic purposes, such as cooking, heating, or even powering gas appliances, especially in th winter season.
They also sold on the black market at reduced prices to those who cannot afford to buy from legitimate suppliers.
The vulnerability lies in the fact that at most properties, gas bottle cages are usually out of the line of sight of the man courtyard, making it easy for criminals to break the cage, load bottles, and flee unnoticed.
Electricity costs helping grow an illicit market
Easigas also noted that South African households as brace for winter and the inevitable spike in energy costs, many are turning to gas to take back control of their energy costs.
It added that with more South Africans buying gas than ever before, a growing market of illegal operators is exploiting the booming LPG sector.
These syndicates resell stolen or repurposed cylinders, and often under- or overfill cylinders, tampering with seals, or contaminating the contents.
In practical terms, that could mean paying full price for a half-full cylinder, damaging your appliances, or even voiding your insurance without knowing it.
“Illegally refilled cylinders often carry fake seals, are past their safety lifespan, or show signs of tampering, none of which the average person would spot when grabbing a cylinder off the shelf,” Easigas said.
In general, Fidelity ADT warned that as winter approaches, shorter days bring more than just colder temperatures—they introduce increased safety and security risks for homeowners.
“With limited daylight, everyday activities such as commuting, arriving home, or exercising often take place in low-light conditions,” it said.
“This shift creates greater opportunities for criminal activity, making it essential to reassess both your home security measures and personal safety habits.”
The security firm recommends taking the following steps to ensure your security systems are winter-ready:
- Test alarm systems and panic buttons to ensure signals are received by the monitoring centre,
- Inspect electric fencing, as colder weather can affect tension and lead to false alarms,
- Confirm backup power solutions are in place to maintain protection during outages,
- Check that outdoor lighting, beams, and sensors are fully operational,
- Arm external beams earlier in the evening once everyone is home, and
- Stay alert when leaving or arriving home in the dark.
“A system that isn’t functioning properly is as good as having no system at all. Regular testing and maintenance can make all the difference in an emergency,” it said.
The warning comes as the latest crime statistics from the South African Police Service (SAPS) show that home-related crimes remain a major concern.
According to the SAPS’s latest data, the country recorded 42,969 cases of home burglaries between October and December 2025.
This works out to roughly 477 incidents a day. Meanwhile, the SAPS recorded 6,505 house robberies over the same period—or 72 every day.
