subject: How Thieves Choose Which Home To Target [print this page] How Thieves Choose Which Home To Target How Thieves Choose Which Home To Target
There are many forms of robbery out there, from armed robbery to high tech identity fraud; thieves never miss an opportunity to separate innocent people from their hard earned money and possessions. For all the various and innovative burglary methods however, nothing seems poised to take away from the good old fashioned home break in.
Every year, thousands of homes across the country are broken into, ransacked, and stripped of their most valuable contents. Homeowners come home to a traumatizing scene, and the damages amount to millions of dollars in lost property.
So what makes a crook pick one home over another? Why is one house in a neighborhood singled out to be picked clean while the rest are unmolested? And what can you do to prevent your home from becoming a target?
As a rule, burglars rarely pick a house out at random. They will usually "case" a home or given neighborhood for a period of days or weeks before selecting the house to enter. They will take the time to determine the owner's schedule, when they are home, when they aren't, are doors securely locked, is there a functioning alarm system, or a dog on the premises that might announce their presence.
One of the more nefarious tools of the burglar trade is the baby monitor. For less than $100, a burglar can buy a baby monitor and drive through a neighborhood listening to other baby monitors. The reason is simple; baby monitors only have 4 channels at most and their signals are not encrypted, meaning the signal can be intercepted by anyone who is on the same frequency and within range.
The burglar will be able to watch your baby, listen in on your conversations and, depending on where the indoor monitor is located, even determine the layout of your home. Obviously it also makes it very easy for them to know when you are leaving, where you are going, and how long they can expect you to be gone.
Thieves will also watch obituaries and target homes that are empty while the family is away at a funeral or viewing. Imagine the heartbreak of losing someone compounded by the discovery that your home had been invaded.
More recently, thieves have been using social networking sites such as Facebook to target victims. Facebook is well known for people who post pretty much all of their normal everyday activities. Posting that you will be out of town on vacation for certain dates is much like waving a red flag before a bull, it will bring them charging.
So how do you protect yourself against becoming one of the people every 15 seconds who is the victim of a burglary?
Invest in an alarm system. Just putting an alarm sign on the door won't cut it. Burglars can quickly determine if the alarm is functional or not. Preferably, install one that not only makes sound, but also notifies the police.
Don't use Facebook or other social media to announce activities that will take you out of your home for several days. You never know who is watching. And when you are gone, tell your neighbors so that they may be aware of any suspicious activity in or around your home.
Drop the volume on your home phones. The sound of a phone ringing unanswered can be heard outside and is a sure tipoff that the home is unoccupied.
You can also invest in timers that will light your home at night so it doesn't appear empty. You can get timers that will open and close drapes or blinds as well.
Keep your shrubbery trimmed. Overgrown shrubs make a nice hiding place for burglars. In the same vein, if you are going to be away from your home for any length of time, hire a lawn service to maintain your property so it doesn't give the appearance that the home is unoccupied.
Role play. Imagine yourself as a burglar and walk around your home during the day and at night and see how many security flaws you can spot. Don't get too into the part though; you don't want to be arrested for casing your own house!
Don't become a victim. Take the proper steps to defend yourself against residential theft. You don't want to be caught unawares.
