Have you ever wondered how burglars choose which houses to break into? Does the burglar pick a random house or have a purposeful thought behind it? With the rise in the number of robbery cases, having these questions in mind is quite common. We are here to answer all these questions.
Several movies showing thieves breaking into a house include an image of a house with open windows and unsecured doors. Or burglars smashing the glass and entering the home and taking away the stuff without being noticed. Well, this is not the case with modern-day thieves. Today, burglars have grown wiser and approach houses very differently. Rather than robbing every other house, they look for a set of conditions before picking their target. They search an area, look for the houses, pick the one they find easy to target and develop an effective plan. No house invasion occurs spontaneously because one hasty decision will lead them into prison.
Since having a little knowledge about how burglars choose houses is vital, we are going to dive into this subject. In this article, we will share the information that will reduce your risk of being a victim of property crimes. So, without wasting more time, let's analyze the mind of a burglar.
What Do Burglars Look For In A House?
‘How do burglars choose houses to break in?’ is one of the most common questions we get asked. The answer depends on the burglar and what they are eyeing to steal. Every burglar has their own tactics to commit the crime; however, there are some common things that all of them look out for. Here are some of the elements.
1. Easy Access Through Doors & Windows
The first step to breaking into any property is to find the entry and exit spots. Often, burglars try to enter a home through the front door so that it won’t alert neighbors and be easy for them to get in. This is why they look for easy access like an unlocked door, open garage door or pet door, poor quality or extremely fragile doors or windows that are easy to break. In a nutshell, the less sturdy the door is, the easier it will be for invaders to break in and leave without being caught.
2. Valuables To Steal
Burglars break into most houses to get their hands on valuables. Taking such a risk for absolutely nothing is not worth the time and effort. Hence, they seek special items that they can sell for huge money once they are out. This is why, while targeting a home, the burglars look for expensive cars parked outside, and items like cash, jewelry, electronics, designer clothes, accessories, etc.
3. Unoccupied Property
If you are thinking about how burglars choose houses, then the answer is they look for unoccupied properties. It is easier for them to break into a home with no owner and increases their chances of getting valuables without anyone knowing. This is why burglars look for opportunities when the homeowners are out like for a job or a vacation. They look for build-up mails, unkempt plants, turned off lights, etc. They lurk around their neighborhood to get a better idea and look for the perfect opportunity to break in.
4. Dark Areas With Low Visibility
Most burglars only commit the crime at night. Targeting the home when it's dark or low visibility makes it much easier for them to stay hidden and run without any issues. For this, they find areas concealed by the shadow of trees or cars or areas not under the surveillance of security cameras.
How To Know That A Burglar Is Watching Your Home?
Now that you know how burglars choose houses they want to target, it is equally important to learn the signs indicating you are being watched. Knowing that the burglar is watching your home will help you take the right measure at the right time. Here are those signs.
- Unfamiliar Vehicles Parked Nearby: Several vehicles roam across the streets in the neighborhood. However, if you notice an unknown, strange vehicle parked nearby, not just for a few hours but for a day, then there are high chances that someone is watching you. It is preferred to jot down the vehicle number and report it to the police in such scenarios.
- Suspicious People Roaming Around In Neighborhood: How burglars choose houses is by roaming around in the neighborhood to better understand your daily routine. Their motive is to look out for valuables, entry and exit points, timings when the house is empty, etc. Having said that, you must keep an eye out for suspicious people gazing into the building, fake solicitors, those showing odd behavior, etc.
- Strange Signs & Symbols Around Your Home: Some criminals use signs and symbols to indicate to their peers about their potential target. Such symbols might include words like ‘too risky,’ ‘alarming house,’ ‘good target,’ etc. So, instead of neglecting such signs and considering them normal, you must take an informed decision and contact the police regarding the same.
- Aimless Knocking On The Door: Another common sign that you might be robbed is someone knocking on your door aimlessly or to check whether you are at home or not. Most criminals go to the door of their potential target and ring the bell. If someone answers, they innocently ask something random like ‘have you seen my dog?’ or they offer some sort of service.
- Strangers Snapping Pictures: Pictures are a way to preserve something in memory and look after it whenever you wish to remember it. This is why burglars often snap pictures of their targets. They take pictures from different angles to share them with their peers or partners in crime and use them for executing their plans safely. So, if you ever find some stranger taking the pictures, you must consider it a red flag and take it as a cause of concern.
Tips To Protect Your Home From Being Targeted
With residential break-ins becoming more prevalent, it is high time to take measures to make your home less appealing to criminals. There are certain practices that you can adopt for the same. Take these tips seriously and prevent your home from being robbed.
1. Invest in a home security system
2. Keep all the doors & windows locked
3. Don’t announce your departure
4. Keep valuables hidden in lockers
5. Don’t let mails pile up
6. Get to know your neighbors
7. Wait for posting your vacation pictures
8. Keep a check on hedges and fences
9. Check the locks and alarm systems every now and then
10. Cut down the overgrown shrubs
Final Words
And here we come to an end. Now that you have explored all the possibilities, it’s time to use the information on how burglars choose houses and share it with others. For more such tips and information to turn your home into a safe haven, check out Home Of Expertise.
