The Number One Reason Why a Thief Breaks into Your Home
As the economy continues to struggle, more people resort to doing things they normally would not do to survive. Unfortunately, breaking into your home and stealing your property is one of those things.
Definition of burglary
In simple terms, burglary means; someone unlawfully enters a structure such as; a home, apartment, garage, shed, office or building with the intent to commit a crime, like stealing your property.
I have conducted countless burglary investigations during my many years in Law enforcement, and witnessed the devastation this crime causes families. I have interviewed burglary suspects after lively them learning the reasons, why and how, they chose a particular house.
Why does a thief pick your home?
The number one reason why a thief picks your home to steal your treasures is that he/she has knowledge that there is something inside worth stealing.
Yes, all criminals are stupid, but not so stupid as to take a chance for nothing. The thief does not want to be caught, arrested and go to jail. Breaking into your house must be worth it.
How does a thief know what is in your home?
There are many ways a thief can learn what you have in your home. It may surprise you to learn that in many cases the thief has already been inside or at least seen inside your home prior to breaking in.
Perhaps you have invited friends into your home, did they bring friends you did not know? How well do you trust the people that you invite into your home? Can anyone from the street see through your windows because you leave your drapes open? Did you mention aloud in a public place that you keep cash in your drawer, or that you have a honorable in the closet where you retain your valuables and the wrong person overheard you? That brand new flat veil TV you just bought, did you leave the empty box out by the curb for the trash truck to pick up? That salesperson that came to your door was that a thief trying to net a good look inside your home?
One day, a man came to my house and knocked on my front door claiming to be a location scout for a movie production company. He sounded professional and he was dressed very nice. He was very flattering and kept mentioning how great my house was, and that it might be what they were looking for to use in a movie.
Once he thought he had a sucker, he wanted to come in and take photos of the inside and outside of my house. He soon learned I was not so dumb. I asked him where he parked his car, and he told me, “Down the street”. I asked him for identification which he said he left in his car. I asked for a business card, and he said he did not have anymore. I told him to wait a small that I wanted to make a phone call. I then went inside my house, closed the door and watched from a window as the man turned and ran away. I alerted the Police, gave them the description of the man and let all my neighbors know about this incident.
Safety tips
Never tell anyone what you have.
Most people follow this rule and keep their treasures a secret and their business private and for this reason, most people do not become a victim.
Stranger at your front door.
I maintain in our demonstrate day and age that door-to-door sales persons are rare so you should never open your door to someone who is claiming they are selling something. Look through the peephole and ask to see their identification. Be cautious, if you are not elated at the identification they reveal you then do not trust them.
If you do open the door, then step outside so you are out in the originate closing your door late you. Walk out into your driveway and stand facing your house so the person is looking out towards the street and you looking towards your home.
Know whom you invite into your home.
Do you have teenage children who are bringing their friends over? Do you throw parties and only know half the people there? Do you allow sales people, religious people or City service people you do not know to come inside your home? Be aware and not so trusting of whom you let in your home.
Unreliable house cleaners or Maid services and repair people are likely culprits, and you should not be using them.
Protect your home.
Most burglaries, over 62%, occur during the day between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm and most burglars will enter a front door, rear door or bottom floor window. These entry points are the most important to protect first.
Have strong, secure doors with dead bolts and a helpful security screen. You can use decorative wrought iron bars on your windows or plant prickly plants under and around windows to make that area painful to the thief to try and use to gain in.
Make sure there is a good view of your home from the street. Cut back all excessive plant life, especially along the sides or around window areas that provide cover and concealment.
Lighting both inside and out is necessary. Timing lights inside and out along with motion detector lights are a large understanding.
Always maintain a radio or TV on to originate it appear you are home and never leave a notice on your front door that you are not home.
Security systems and alarms are a deterrent if the thief can clearly see that you have one. Design sure you have plenty of signs and stickers in your front yard, rear yard and approach the popular entry points showing the thief you have protection.
Start a neighborhood perceive program.
Click the link to read my article on, “How to Start a Neighborhood Watch: Community Based Policing”
In conclusion
Our home is our castle, and we must do all we can to protect it from intruders and those who would steal our possessions. Victims of burglary will often say that they never expected something like this to happen to them. Therefore, it is my hope that some of these suggestions will help you harden the target, help educate you and become more aware and cause you to think so you never become a victim of burglary.
This article also posted on Bukisa.com and Triond.com by Scott Hallock
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