Have you ever wondered how burglars manage to sneak into homes so easily and make off with cash, jewelry and other household items without getting caught? Research conducted among reformed home thieves reveals their secrets and our own mistakes that make their burglary even easier.
Although home security systems are becoming more common, 90% of reformed burglars believe that breaking in to a home is still an easy task. In addition, they all agreed that there is no impossible job; there is always a way to break in. Most of the ex-thieves admitted to collecting information before robbing a home. They would observe a house to figure out daily routines (when homeowners are away at work or taking a nightly walk). In the survey, 62% of the ex-thieves said all they needed was five minutes to make a sweep of the home. One in ten of the ex-burglars used media like Facebook and Twitter to track their targets. Twitting information like when you are leaving on a vacation or going out for the night with friends broadcasts that your home is empty and ready for the taking.
Besides broadcasting whereabouts on social media, another mistake homeowners make is putting house keys in common and obvious places. In the survey, 78% of the ex-burglars said they looked under the doormats and in plant pots for a key before breaking in. The other common mistake homeowners make is leaving a window open. During the summer, thieves immediately look for an open window to sneak through.
Once inside the home, one third of the former thieves said they first looked for car keys. Most homeowners do not keep car keys locked away in a safe. Are your keys out in the open so burglars can fill your car with your valuables and drive away? The survey also found that 34% of the robbers thought valuables would be in bedroom drawers. 20% looked for a safe and 4% of the ex-thieves searched the fridge for valuables.
If you are counting on your neighbors to watch your home, you may want to rethink your strategy. Almost half of the reformed thieves claimed that they did not worry about neighbors. They agreed that the best form of security is a burglar alarm followed by a dog.
Richard Taylor, an ex-burglar who is now a Church minister, said, “Homeowners should sit up and take note of these results, the importance of home security cannot be overlooked, yet surprisingly many homeowners fail to take even the simplest precautions to protect themselves. Basic things like being more aware, having a burglar alarm fitted and even getting a dog can act as deterrents to thieves on the hunt for an invitation.”
Disclaimer: The results may be biased due to the company backing the study is a home belongings insurance company.
Sources:
http://www.easier.com/74448-reformed-house-burglars-mistakes.html
