In 2019, there were an estimated 1,117,696 burglaries in the United States alone. Although the number has decreased over the last few years, the losses add up to billions, not to mention the psychological impact that robberies have had on the targets.
If you’ve ever asked yourself whether your home might be a target, here are some important things to know about how burglars choose their victims.
Lack of a Security System
The first thing that burglars look for is whether a security system is in place. If you have surveillance cameras installed outside of your home, you can decrease your chances of burglary by over 50%. Although security systems don’t always deter burglars, they can make a significant difference. The more security measures you can put in place, from floodlights to motion sensors to alarms, the more you will decrease your chances of being chosen as a target.
Easy Access
Many burglars wander the neighborhood looking for easy access. For example, they’ll look for windows that look unlocked or easy to pry open. They also look for homes without fences which could make it easy to get into the backyard and through an access point like a small window.
Another common way that burglars easily access homes is through garage doors. If you have an old-fashioned garage door that takes nothing more than a simple lifting motion to open, then you’re putting your home significantly at risk. Replace any outdated garage doors with a modern sectional one, and always make sure that the door that accesses the inside of your home is locked from the interior of the garage.
Vacationers
As much as you might be dying to share your vacation photos online, you should consider posting them after you come back from your trip. Seasoned burglars specifically target people who are on vacation because they know there will be no one there to stop them from their crime.
In addition to avoiding posting about your vacation while you’re away, you should ask a neighbor or friend to stop by throughout your trip so that your home still looks occupied. Make sure that they park their car in front of the driveway and pick up any newspapers that have gathered on the porch. If you have piles of mail gathering, it’s a sign that screams to burglars that no one is home.
Obvious Valuables
If you have expensive valuables that are clearly visible from the exterior of your home, then you’re practically begging for someone to rob you. Often burglars will come up to the window and peer from the outside, seeing if they can spot anything that would be worth breaking in for.
From electronics to jewelry, you can never be too sure what burglars will be attracted to. So, do your best to close your windows when you’re not at home, and be aware of what is visible from the outside.
2018 ·