There were approximately eight million property crimes in 2016, totalling $15.6 billion in losses. Read on if you’ve ever pondered how burglars pick their targets. We delve deeply into this topic and equip you with all the knowledge you need to safeguard your home and valuables from criminals.
Intruders must first devise a foolproof strategy before breaking into a house. They scout the neighbourhood looking for specific characteristics in homes. To determine if your residence presents a low-threat target for criminals.
Burglars Disclose What Makes Some People Simple Targets
Taking precautions can protect your home from an intruder.
The worst thing that could happen is to get home and find that someone has broken in. Even though this concern has been around for some time, it’s not something we’d like to think about. Some people, frozen by fear, opt to do nothing in the hopes that things will get better on their own. Yet others will travel to extraordinary lengths to protect their homes.
Someone did us a favor and talked to ex-convicts who broke into homes to find out what techniques they used. Actually, the thieves were quite trustworthy. The answers to these questions will help you identify potential entry points into your home. More precautions should be taken right away if any of the following activities are undertaken.
Check out Security Systems’ range of high-end CCTV installations in Melbourne for your home or office protection needs.
During the day, no one is at your house.
Most of us likely think that robberies only take place at night. Heists in films always take place late at night, when everyone is asleep. Crooks, though, deny that to be true. Robbers prefer the safety of the daytime, when no one is usually at home, to commit their crimes.
Intruders frequently target houses that are “typically unoccupied during the day.” A persistent burglar might wait until they know you’re at the office before trying to enter your home. A second thief could casually knock on your door to make sure no one is home.
There are less time-consuming ways to ensure the safety of your home and family than quitting your job.
You don’t lock your doors and windows.
Even though locking the doors is something everyone should do for safety, criminals know from experience that several people don’t. A thief once said that you’d be surprised by how many people don’t bother to lock there own doors.
If you have a fenced yard, a thief can hide in the privacy of your yard even if you remember to lock your back door. At least one other person openly acknowledges taking advantage of this. The back door was always unlocked, so he says that’s how he’d usually enter the building.
A locked door won’t prevent break-ins, but it will deter would-be criminals. It is especially important to lock any ground-level windows.
While you’re on vacation, you let your mail accumulate.
Forgetting to have a neighbour or friend pick up one’s mail while they’re away is a common oversight among vacationers. When burglars see an overfilled mail boxes and a pile of newspapers right in front of a house, they know they’ve struck gold because the residents have likely abandoned the place.
This problem, however, has a few easy answers. Ask a friend to check on your mail and newspaper delivery while you’re away.
One burglar said he also looked for the “stupid tricks individuals use when they are out of town” to identify an empty house.
The lights are on and the TV is blaring at two in the morning on even a Sunday in a middle-to-upper class neighbourhood.
People who are casing ones house will likely be able to see right through your defences. Make sure someone gets your mail and newspaper and leave a few lights on.
You have a garden that is simple to access.
If a burglar has multiple entry points to a building, he or she will choose the one that is least difficult to use. Burglars prefer breaking in through back windows because they have a lower chance of being spotted. If your garden is exposed because there is no fence around it, a burglar has easier access to your home’s backside.
Another ex-con suggests, “Make it a royal hurt to enter your garden.” The front entry points (doors as well as windows) are rarely used as points of entry. No one likes the challenge of trying to scale a 10-foot fence. The longer it takes a potential intruder to gain entry to your home, the better your chances of thwarting them.
There is a thief among you.
It may come as a shock to learn that most burglaries are not carried out by random people. Sixty-six percent of robberies are involved by the one who knows the victim, according to new statistics.
The term “jealous neighbour” was used to describe this situation. Daughter who’s a drug addict. Most home burglars fit this profile. Possible difficulty in permanently severing ties with such individuals. The presence of security measures such as cameras and alarms can deter them. Do what you can to keep your whereabouts a secret from them. Avoid giving them advance notice of your upcoming travels by sharing no such information on Facebook. While these precautions may be difficult to put into place, they are preferable to confronting a friend or family member who has stolen from you.
You demonstrate that you possess valuables.
Thieves are more likely to target homes that advertise their wealth because they have more to gain. It is in your best interest to conceal your valuables as much as possible from curious onlookers.
The advice of a thief: “Don’t advertise your expensive goods. Hide that 70-inch flat-screen from prying eyes. Don’t set up your computer at the ground floor desk facing the window. In addition to the obvious benefits of securing high-value items, doing so can also help protect lower-profile valuables. The main bedroom is usually the first place a burglar looks when breaking into a house. Think about how you can keep your valuables safe.
Remember that a burglar will leave a house if he or she has to wait around for too long. If even some of these precautions are taken, thieves may be put off for long enough for valuables to be saved from destruction.
Your house is situated in a convenient area.
Any competent thief will seek to maximise take while minimising risk. Burglars don’t pick specific houses to break into by chance. Residences on the outskirts of towns, where they are less likely to be seen, are prefered. They may look for locations near major thoroughfares.
Burglars may also target a house if its main door opens directly onto a public thoroughfare or alley. As a result, crooks constantly seek out unsuspected places to hide. Front doors that blend into the architecture of the home are less likely to be broken into.
It is more likely that burglars will target houses that are on a corner, that have no neighbours on one side, or that are obscured by vegetation or design features. There is an increase in home invasions at residences that are not easily visible from the street because law enforcement has a more difficult time identifying and apprehending the criminals. Personal safety can be jeopardised by inadequate lighting both inside and outside the home.
You neglect to lock your garage door and close it.
It’s bad practise, just like neglecting to lock the house’s entrances. It’s common for people to leave their garage doors open after coming inside or spending time in the backyard. According to a second source, “Burglars like to drive across nice communities, searching for people who left their car park open.” They would be over the moon if someone else mowed their lawn. Quickly exit the vehicle, dash into the storage area, gather as many tools as you can, and leave!
If homeowners were more careful about keeping their garage door locked at all times, many break-ins could be prevented.
Some thieves, however, have loftier goals. Intruders are aware that most people don’t lock the door leading from the carport to the house .” Is it possible to peek inside your garage if you press down firmly on the door’s top? In order for them to get inside. They can use a coat hanger to pull up on the red cord and release it to open the door. The garage rope or string needs to be cut. You now have a remote control and absolutely no idea how to use it. The door connecting the garage and the house should probably be locked.
There is no alarm system in place.
Even though they can be pricey, alarm systems are a fantastic deterrent to would-be burglars. The sound of an alarm is a powerful deterrent. No thief would ever want to be caught. Many would-be thieves would leave at the sound of an actual alarm, though the value of a visible alarm sign has been called into question.
You do not possess a dog.
Some victims of burglaries are divided on the topic of whether or not having a dog would have helped prevent the crime. A professional burglar who has already scouted out a house may not be deterred by the presence of a dog. These thugs are responsible for stealing dog treats, or even worse, by baiting dogs with food. However, thieves who were only looking to make a quick buck claimed that the dogs kept them away.
No matter how big or small, hostile or friendly, it doesn’t matter to me. When one dog in the neighbourhood barks, the others soon follow suit, alerting nearby residents to the presence of a potential intruder.
You may have reached the tipping point where you finally decide to adopt a pet.
You make things too simple.
If you put into practise the advice given here, you can make your home a safer place to live. Deadbolt all windows and doors, keep lots of lights on, and consider installing a security system. One more way to protect your smaller valuables at home is to make them less obvious. The presence of a safe and lockbox will decrease the likelihood that a time-pressured thief will break into your home and steal your belongings.
Security Systems provides expert home alarm system installation for your residential or commercial infrastructure.
What Items Do Burglars Look for in a Home?
In most cases, burglars don’t break into a home in search of common goods, but rather, valuables. In general, they are trying to find high-priced items to flip. So, what exactly is it that burglars are looking for when they break into your house?
- Theft of valuables and currency are two of the main targets of burglars. To top it all off, they’re the most common items stolen from homes.
- Drugs: in recent years, drugs have become a popular target for thieves. They can go through cabinets looking for opioids as well as other prescription drugs to resell.
- Aside from automobiles, electronics are one of the most commonly stolen categories of goods. Bulkier technology may be abandoned because it is less convenient to transport than smaller items during a job.
You can avoid losing money and valuables if you keep these items in a secure, out-of-the-way location. Put these frequent theft targets somewhere unusual in case of a break-in.
How Can I Stop My House From Being Robbed?
While home invasions are common, you can protect your property in many different ways. It is possible to lessen the likelihood of a break-in by taking advantage of both visual clues and alerts. Look at these advice on how to prevent a home invasion.
Lock Your Doors
When trying to break into your home, one of the first things a burglar will do is jiggle the doorknob. A lot of people don’t bother locking their doors, so this can be successful. Only a fraction of break-ins involve the use of force, so many more involve people simply walking in the front door. Even if the crime rate is low where you live, it is still wise to lock your doors and windows whenever you leave the house.
The security provided by a door also depends on the type of lock that is installed. As it is much more difficult for would-be burglars to pick deadbolt locks, they are the most secure type of lock. For others, standard tools and methods such as a wrench or credit card are used to free the mechanism.
Your spare key should not be hidden under the doormat or in a flower pot outside the door. These hiding places are easily discovered by burglars and given immediate access. Keep your key on you at all times and hide the spare.
Don’t Leave First-Floor Windows Open.
Rather than trying to scale your building like the famous “cat burglar,” most would-be intruders will look for an entrance on the ground floor. A common entry point for burglars is a ground-floor window that has been left unlocked or is propped open. It’s easy to leave the main floor’s windows open, especially in the summer.
Unfortunately, some air conditioners are placed in windows for ventilation and cooling, but this also provides an easy entry point for thieves. The group can be yanked out of there, and the window opened with brute force. Relocating them to the second or third floor can help mitigate this risk. On the other hand, central air conditioning can be installed to ensure that all of the windows remain locked at all times.
Don’t Let Mail Pile Up.
It’s easy to tell when you’ve gone on vacation because of how quiet your house is. If mail begins piling up in your mailbox, it’s a clear sign that you aren’t there and won’t be back for a while. Leaving the newspapers at the end of your driveway is further proof that you are away.
If you don’t want to alert potential thieves to the fact that you won’t be home, you can have your mail held at the post office while you’re away. You can ask your mail carrier to hold your mail for anywhere between three and thirty days while you’re away, and they’ll deliver it all to you when you return.
Hiring a house sitter to pick up your mail and subscriptions can be a more convincing deterrent against burglars. You can also ask a neighbour to get your mail for you when they get their own. They can deter burglars from targeting your home because their actions and presence are similar to yours.
Wait to Post Vacation Photos
Travel announcements on social media are another telltale sign. In the midst of reminiscing, you can send a message to would-be burglars that the house is unoccupied.
Unfortunately, a large percentage of thefts are committed by people the victim knows. It’s likely that, thanks to the widespread nature of social media, you’re Facebook friends with or Instagram followers with a few people you wouldn’t consider close friends in real life. In addition, your accounts may be set to public rather than private, allowing anyone who stumbles across your profile to learn of your passing.
Keep your vacation photos safe from burglars by not displaying them online until you’ve returned home. It’s also a good idea to avoid updating your statuses with details about how long you’ll be gone. Telling your friends and family about your trip a few days later can be very rewarding.
Hide Valuables
Can expensive items be seen by a window snoop? Your level of wealth is probably more obvious than you think, and potential burglars can assess your home’s security just by looking in the windows.
Put valuables in a safe or a concealed location to protect them from theft or loss. Most burglars won’t bother with a house if they see no obvious signs of wealth inside.
If you aren’t careful, your dumpster can reveal more about your financial situation than you’d like for it to. If you have a new flat-screen TV and someone lifts the lid of your trash can, they can see the box inside. Any valuable tools or toys should be put back in the shed, as they could attract thieves if left out in the open in the front yard.
Reconsider Privacy Hedges and Fences
Fences and hedges that are both high and densely grown seem like a good idea if you want to hide your home from potential burglars. Thefts, on the other hand, are performed in private because the thief values anonymity while on the job.
Keep an eye on your plants to make sure they don’t overwhelm your home. There should be a clear sightline from the street to the door and windows on the ground floor.
The greater the foot traffic and number of eyes on your home, the more likely it is that a potential intruder will be spotted and apprehended. You can feel more secure knowing that police patrol cars are keeping an eye on your house.
Put Your Pup to Work
Intruders will usually avoid a home with a dog because the dog’s barking serves as a deterrent and a distraction. For many would-be burglars, the presence of a dog and the knowledge that it might bite is enough to deter them from attempting a break-in.
The noise alone is enough to deter would-be thieves, and it can serve as a warning to your neighbours that something is amiss. Even though a burglar might react the same to any dog, a large dog can be more intimidating thanks to its size and deeper bark.
Keep a few dog accessories, like a water bowl and a chew toy, in plain sight in the yard. Alternatively, you could hang a traditional “Beware of Dog” sign on the fence to alert pedestrians.
Install Motion-Activated Lights
Even though fences and hedges can increase the risk of a break-in, having a well-lit outside area can help deter criminals by making it more difficult for them to sneak up on your property. The unexpected illumination provided by motion detectors is, however, an attractive feature.
The suddenness with which the light comes on can startle would-be thieves. They might think someone is checking the outside because they heard a strange noise, not realising that their own motion activated it. Intruders can be tricked into thinking they’ve been found if a bright light is shone on them at night.
Put in motion detector lights near your windows and doors to deter would-be intruders from entering your home.
Use a Security System
You don’t need to spend a fortune on a state-of-the-art security system to deter thieves from breaking into your home. In the event of a sensor activation, a basic alarm system may sound a horn or siren, while a more sophisticated system may have additional features.
Home security systems have become more sophisticated and cutting-edge in recent years. They can instal monitoring equipment such as motion detectors, cameras, entry controls, intercoms, and even automated voice messages.
A door decal or sign is available with many security systems, making it obvious to would-be thieves what they’re getting themselves into. The average burglar will avoid your home if it has a security system because disarming it is too much of a hassle for them.
Let Security Systems get you peace of mind by installing top-quality and reliable home security cameras in Melbourne.
Conclusion
Before breaking into a home, burglars need to carefully plan a strategy that will not be detected. They drive around the area looking for houses with certain features. Your home can be safeguarded from potential intruders by taking the necessary safety measures. Former inmates discuss the methods they used to break into houses. Even if you remember to lock your back door, a thief can still hide in the privacy of your yard if you have a fence.
Back windows are the most popular entry points for burglars because they offer the least detection. While you’re away, have a friend pick up your mail and newspaper for you. Criminals have more to gain by breaking into houses that flaunt their wealth. They may be deterred by the installation of security measures like cameras and alarms. You should try to keep as many of your valuables hidden as possible from prying eyes.
Homes on corners or with no neighbours on one side, or those that are difficult to see due to landscaping or architectural details, are prime targets for burglars. There has been an increase in home invasions at less conspicuous residences because law enforcement has a harder time locating and apprehending the perpetrators. Some burglars may think twice about breaking into a house if they see a dog outside. Always use deadbolt locks, make sure there are plenty of lights on, and think about getting a security system. There will be less of a chance of a break-in because of the safe and lockbox.
Even though home invasions are fairly common, there are steps you can take to protect your home. When you leave the house, make sure to lock all of the doors and windows. Do not make it hard for burglars by leaving ground-floor windows unlocked or propped open. The use of central air conditioning makes it unnecessary to leave any windows open. Avoid sharing photos from your trip online until you’ve returned from it.
Put your valuables in a safe or a secret location to prevent them from being taken. If there are no obvious signs of wealth inside, most burglars will pass on breaking in. A dog’s barking serves as both a deterrent and a distraction, so burglars are more likely to avoid a house that has one. It is more likely that an intruder will be spotted and apprehended if there is a high volume of people in and around your home. Make sure your plants aren’t taking over your living space by keeping an eye on their growth.
An intruder might be scared away by a dog the same way he would be by a human, but a big dog is much more likely to do so. Preventing burglaries with motion-sensor lighting and alarm systems is a smart idea. If disabling a security system seems like too much of a hassle, the average burglar will avoid a house that has one.
Content Summary
- To determine if your residence presents a low-threat target for criminals.
- If you have a fenced yard, a thief can hide in the privacy of your yard even if you remember to lock your back door.
- Ask a friend to check on your mail and newspaper delivery while you’re away.
- Make sure someone gets your mail and newspaper and leave a few lights on.
- Do what you can to keep your whereabouts a secret from them.
- It is in your best interest to conceal your valuables as much as possible from curious onlookers.
- Think about how you can keep your valuables safe.
- You neglect to lock your garage door and close it.
- There is no alarm system in place.
- Some victims of burglaries are divided on the topic of whether or not having a dog would have helped prevent the crime.
- One more way to protect your smaller valuables at home is to make them less obvious.
- Even if the crime rate is low where you live, it is still wise to lock your doors and windows whenever you leave the house.
- Keep your key on you at all times and hide the spare.
- If you don’t want to alert potential thieves to the fact that you won’t be home, you can have your mail held at the post office while you’re away.
- Travel announcements on social media are another telltale sign.
- Telling your friends and family about your trip a few days later can be very rewarding.
- If you aren’t careful, your dumpster can reveal more about your financial situation than you’d like for it to.
- Keep an eye on your plants to make sure they don’t overwhelm your home.
- Intruders will usually avoid a home with a dog because the dog’s barking serves as a deterrent and a distraction.
- Keep a few dog accessories, like a water bowl and a chew toy, in plain sight in the yard.
- Put in motion detector lights near your windows and doors to deter would-be intruders from entering your home.
- You don’t need to spend a fortune on a state-of-the-art security system to deter thieves from breaking into your home.
- The average burglar will avoid your home if it has a security system because disarming it is too much of a hassle for them.
FAQs About House Security
What Should a Home Security System Include?
Every complete home security system package typically includes sensors, control panels, door or window sensors, floodlights, doorbells and cameras. Together, these elements will keep a home as safe as possible.
Is It Better to Have a Security System or Cameras?
The most notable difference between security and CCTV systems is that security systems are more comprehensive. Many security systems include camera systems or at least video doorbells. But they also track potential intruders through sensors and detectors, not just by sight.
Do Security Cameras Attract Burglars?
Security cameras don’t attract burglars to your property, but at the same time, they probably won’t keep burglars away from your property. More than likely, your security camera will go unnoticed by burglars. Here’s the bottom line: security cameras, for the most part, aren’t designed to deter crime.
Which Is a Better Security System, Wired or Wireless?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, but here’s the gist: Wired security systems have more reliable signals. Wireless systems provide a more streamlined installation and can be used in places where wired systems can’t.
What Blocks a Security Camera?
The privacy fence, bamboo curtains and yard shade sails are effective tools to disable CCTV security cameras. You may also put up cheap posts with cloth flags along the property line to block the CCTV security camera’s view. You can simply leave the camera alone for the places that don’t bother you.
