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Safety isn’t binary: it sits on a sliding scale. Though a lot of things in this world are outside of our control, the actions that we take every single day can either improve or decrease our total sense of security. And it doesn’t just work on the scale of a single individual, either—it works for entire households, too.
Reddit users have been discussing a very important topic about keeping homes safe from being broken into. And the people giving out advice on what attracts and what deters burglary? Former burglars themselves, so you know that these tips and bits of advice come from (ironically) legitimate sources. Of course, regular folks like you and I pitched in with their own advice, as did security experts whose jobs are to make sure that people's homes are as safe as can be.
Have a read about some of the things that make homes a target for burglars, how to make your home safer, and how to tell if a house is being targeted by burglars, dear Pandas. If you have any additional tips that you think everyone else simply must hear, be sure to share them with us in the comments.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Don't post anything on social media until you have gotten back home. I can't tell you how many neighbors and family have gotten robbed because of this.
Kimberley McMillan 4 years ago
Maybe if you add every single person on your social media without knowing who they are...
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Please use social media to inform them that your granny died, so criminals can clear out her house while you are at the funeral. Also don't forget to post your future address when you're announcing your wedding. Second hand stuff is easier to sell in brand-new condition.
Mazer 4 years ago
The key is not posting if you are planning a vacation or even a day away. If you are going on vacation and don’t really know your neighbors well enough, you can call the local police departments non-emergency line (9-5 business line should do), let them know your house is vacant and when you will return. Ask for extra patrol during your absence. Or find a reliable housesitter
Panda Kicki 4 years ago
Not sure what country this is common. Here no police will care about your vacation unless you are royalty or such.
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Craig Reynolds 3 years ago
If you're posting on social media and get robbed because of that, look to your so-called friends that know your address.
Vicky Zar 4 years ago
If you go on vacation or take a trip or whatever, don't post it beforehand or during the event, because if you do, burglers will know you are not home and they can rob the place.
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#2
A recent study showed that burglars come back to the same houses quite often. They do this because of a number of motives.
1: They want to take tings they, for some reason, couldn't take the first time.
2: They're kinda familiar with the house.
3: It's guaranteed that the people they robbed replaced the stuff they stole the first time, often these replacements are of better quality than the original.
So after you get raided take good security measures.
RedPandasStandUprightWithPawsUpToLookIntimidating 4 years ago
I was burgled twice in 6 weeks. The police told me that the thieves leave the time for insurance replacements. However a family member died and I was too busy. So they emptied my large chest freezer instead. (But left the frozen liver!)
Marco Conti 4 years ago
I'd buy frozen liver by the pallet for the next time. Just to see their faces.
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Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
having grown up in a crap area, and a childhood friend becoming the local gang leader (I was a nerd, so I was left out of it).... this is 100% correct. Often, they're locals who will watch the insurance deliveries arrive, and essentially make a shopping list. They now know the house layout, so they can steal everything faster..... So yeah.... leave the insurance replacements for a few months. Change ALL the locks. Put movement-sensor lights outside the front AND back of your house. Tell the neighbours you've been robbed.... so they will know to raise the alarm should they see anyone around the area. Oh... and the most common break-in time, statistically speaking, is mid-morning during the day, after everyone's left for work / school. It's not in the middle of the night. Why? Because noises are harder to hear during the day with all the traffic noise etc. For real.
The FBI 4 years ago
I don't know what is there to rob in my house, but I can guarantee you the only valuble thing in here is a packet of cheetos.
Marcellus II 4 years ago
That's what people think and forego insurance, but then afterwards Oh that phone and laptop contained my only contacts for half-lost acquaintances and oops that book or memorabilia is irreplaceable etc.
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Thomas Sweda 4 years ago
Looks like this guy’s first burglary. Brand new never, before used pry bar.
#3
If a family member dies, leave someone to house sit the house the deceased lived in.
Years ago a bunch of thieves would look at the funerals section and they would go burglarize houses of the deceased, knowing full well that the whole family was away, down to the exact hour the funerals started.
Bobert Robertson 4 years ago
Uncle Bob has been waiting for this moment his entire life. Sitting in the dark behind the door with his trusty louisville slugger and 7 iron.
Boudica 4 years ago
Let's hope he gets them. This almost makes me want to put a false funeral notice in the paper and wait! 🦹♂️
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Hugh Willie Mungous 4 years ago
Highly unlikely to happen in Ireland as the deceased will almost always be waked in their own house and will never (NEVER!) be left alone.
Janice Blaufox 4 years ago
Always leave a house sitter for funerals, weddings, etc. Thieves scan the newspapers looking for opportunities.
Lovin' Life 4 years ago
Sad to say but in my case, it was family that were stealing but they started before the lady took her last breath. I had to sit ar the house during her funeral. It's so disrespectful that her own children were worried more about what they would gain rather than the fact that they just lost their mother.
Rissie 4 years ago
The problem is that they will target the address mentioned in the messages. So, for instance, if you post an address of a relative, they would target their home. But it really is incredibly unlikely, unless at that point their would be a gang doing that and you know about it. Most thieves won't go through that trouble and just target empty homes based on what they think is inside that's worth the money.
Memere 4 years ago (edited)
Obituaries (death notices) don't usually give the addresses of anyone, just the city or town they live in. But, it's too easy to go online & look up city or county property tax records for anyone & get their address that way. We moved 3 years ago, & just a couple of months later, some guy from our new neighborhood knocked on our door & was asking about our property tax assessment - I was shocked that he knew we had just bought the house & knew the assessed value. Then I found out that it's public knowledge on the county tax department website. Name, address, assessed value of the house, & how much we paid in taxes for it! 😲😠
Load More Replies...ADT points out that a whopping 3.7 million homes get broken into in the US each year. They suggest that you start thinking about the security of your home by getting into the mindset of someone who wants to break in. Take a walk around the exterior of your home and try to think like a burglar.
Check out some of the weaknesses that you spot. Maybe there’s a door that you always keep unlocked. Perhaps there are lots of low windows that would let a burglar get inside easier. Maybe it’s time to trim the bushes around the house so nobody can hide in them.
#4
I'm not a burglar, but I worked for the largest security company in this country for half a decade.
Burglar alarms do not deter burglars. They just alert you that you have been burglarized. Most of the time the police will take very little action in response due to the fact that 98% of burglar alarm activation constitute false alarms.
The sign that comes with the alarm though? That thing is worth more than the alarm as far as deterring burglars.
My job was to take reports from customers who had been burglarized. (see my first point above)
In all my time doing these interviews and I never interviewed one single burglary victim who owned a medium sized or large sized dog. Not one single time.
That is not to say that no one who owns a dog ever gets burglarized.
I'm just saying that in 5 years of spending 8 hours a day interviewing people who had been, not one single time did I encounter the situation.
I think there is at least SOME statistical validity in that.
TL:DR A big dog is the best burglary deterrent you can possibly have. Better than burglar alarms, signs, guns or expensive locks.
Scagsy 4 years ago
I thought that once you get four mediums, you can trade them up for one bigger dog. This goes right up to the Great Dane and then you're talking wolves and nobody really deals in wolves. I might be wrong but it was on the internet so it's probably true.
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Stephanie A Mutti 4 years ago
As a crim defense attorney I can 100% endorse this. And if you mistakenly believe having a gun in your house will protect it from being burglarized, the thing burglars are looking for first are weapons and they don't come in when you are home to use the weapon, and in fact will TARGET your house if you advertise you have a weapon. Get a DOG! Plus no one's gun ever was cuddly warm at night or was excited to see you home. No one's kid was ever accidently shot by playing with a loaded dog.
Glirpy 4 years ago
Why would they target your house if you advertise you have a weapon?
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JustAnother Soul 4 years ago
Don’t get a dog ONLY for security. Just remember, that dog is a (non-human) person too. Treat them well.
Bobby 4 years ago
Dogs should be taught that *only owners feed them. Unscrupulous people exist and will not hesitate to poison dogs. Yes, speaking from experience.
Gaya Knust 4 years ago
Correction: geese are the best burglary deterrent. Raise them and nobody will mess with your property.
Marcellus II 4 years ago
Canada geese are best, but then you cannot get into your own house anymore.
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Anne Reid 4 years ago (edited)
I have a HUGE dog. My mastiff will (and has!) happily welcomed strangers into my house. I can only hope that any burglar that comes in drowns in her copious amounts of drool.
BrookieTheWookie 4 years ago
We have a mastiff, she can be intimidating at first glance, but If you are nice to her, she will be kind and drool all over you, literally
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lazy panda 4 years ago
I mean, if someone broke into our home and gave our dog a butt scratch, the dog would probably just walk out with them. 😂
Joey Marlin 4 years ago
I read about a TV show once where the owners of a large dog were CONVINCED their dog would see off any burglars. So they set up an experiment where someone from the show broke into their home and fed their very happy dog a nice large piece of meat. That said they can still be a deterrent - I've two dogs and one sounds ferocious! He's a cuddle monster but only a few people know that.
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#5
One thing on Reddit I read was that having a pair of large work boots on the porch next to the door can deter burglars (unless they know you). It basically says "Someone is home right now, it its possibly a big dude who can hurt you."
Sam Chilton 4 years ago
Make sure they smell rancid. If the owner doesn't kill them, the smell might!
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Mazer 4 years ago
Nope, dog bowl, boots - these props don’t work much at all. If someone is determined, a pair of empty boots by the door is not going to help. Mix up your daily schedule, befriend neighbors and either invest in a good security system or get a big dog…or both
Marcellus II 4 years ago
But, I read it on Reddit! So it goes into this "Ex-Professional burglars, what works?"-article, surely?
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Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
* make sure the boots are old and worn..... don't go buying new boots, 1) because they'll be nicked... and 2) no big dude is going to leave *good* boots outside. They leave their filthy, stinky work-books outside. So if you're going to "buy boots".... you're best to go to a 2nd hand store, or get old ones from a mate who works construction.
Laurie Ostergaard-Overbey 4 years ago
how about put out a pair of really worn, lousy quality boots? says many things: big guy, too broke to buy new boots, too cheap to buy good boots. prolly nothing worth stealing inside lol
#6
Listened to a KFI radio interview when I lived in Los Angeles. Former anonymous burglar said he avoided houses that hung the U.S. flag. Said it told him the occupants likely owned at least one firearm. Would avoid even if it looked as though no one was home.
DE Ray 4 years ago
I think that was disinformation - guns make good loot, as they can be sold for far higher prices than just about anything else which can be stolen from a home. Electronics are hard to sell for a fraction of its value, jewelry goes for closer to its value but also difficult to find a buyer, but guns are both easy and profitable to sell.
Dave P 4 years ago
Actually there was a survey of over 3000 home burglars, over 90% said they avoided areas with no gun restrictions and 70% said they passed on a house if they thought there was a firearm inside. Guns are actually not a prime item for thieves because stealing that makes any crime a federal case. Of the 11 million black market guns in the US less than 15,000 were stolen.
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Yeah, you heard 4 years ago
Great tip! I'm a Brit, living in the UK, so this should work a treat.
An Co 4 years ago
Outright lie. Burglars LOOK for firearms. One of the best things to steal. And people with American flags are not more likely to have guns.
Full Name 4 years ago
No. Nice try though at trying to marry gun ownership and being patriotic. I know plenty of people who fly a flag outside of their house and don't own a firearm (myself included) and vice versa.
Mazer 4 years ago
No matter where you live, you can do a number of things to make your house undesirable to hit. There are simple inexpensive ways to encourage a thief to move on. Cut down hedges so they are not easy to hide behind, especially ones right next to your house. Put in deadbolts, don’t leave things of value lying around. Add dowels to widows, even ones with locks. Stagger your schedule. Come home and leave at different times if possible, if you don’t want a dog, befriend your neighbors.
Joey Marlin 4 years ago
Not sure my neighbours will be quite the same on walks or curling up on the bed at night but okay...
Load More Replies... Hugh Willie Mungous 4 years ago
If I did that where I live . . . . . it would just look weird.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
I lived in a town years ago that never experienced home break-ins, because everyone owned guns. Not condoning, just stating facts.
SAF saf 4 years ago (edited)
This is BAD advice here. The problem we have here in the eastern parts of Southern California is quite the opposite. A U.S./Military/Don't tread on me/Trump flag is a pretty good indication that guns are in the residence. Cartels 2-3 hours away pay top dollar depending on the type of firearm. Stolen guns have varying degrees of value across the U.S. We're also having a rash of stolen heavy duty trucks GM/Ford/Dodge, same issue they end up in Mexico in 2-3 hours. Pretty sure all the border states have similar problems.
What’s more, while you’re walking the perimeter, take a peek through the windows of your own home. Ideally, you wouldn’t have any high-value items visible. Something valuable that’s proudly displayed for everyone to see can invite criminals in. You don’t have to go as far as hiding all your tech in the basement, though—getting some curtains can be a simple solution.
That’s the same reason you don’t want to leave your phone, laptop, or iPad on the seat of your car. It’s also why you should think about taking your car stereo out when you park. You don’t want to tempt fate.
#7
I'm going to assume having a cop for a neighbor that parks his cruiser in the driveway facing my house is a nice burglar deterrent.
Bobert Robertson 4 years ago
Also great if you want to go away for the weekend with your spouse and leave the teenagers at home
Memere 4 years ago
This truly depends on the town or city, and even more on the character of the cop living next door (or on your street). I've known a lot of cops, from the city/town level, to state highway patrol, and one guy who was going into the Secret Service. Most of them I would trust with anyone's life, but a couple of them - NO FREAKIN' WAY - these guys were awful.
ZombieGirl 4 years ago
lol nope...there are several in my neighborhood and one on my street.....burglaries all the time!
Mazer 4 years ago
You can ask your police or sheriff for extra patrol while you are away. Call the non emergency number and let them know how long you will be gone, that nobody should be at your home and give them a local contact number as well as your own. That way if there is an iffy issue, you can have your contact check it out instead of whatever it is possibly ruining your vacation when it does have to,
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
I'd rather go through the expense of installing an alarm or buying a dog.
#8
When I was young and dumb I would boost rims off cars, cause you could make quick money and it was less then a felony. The number one deterrent hands down...... Lights. If a place is lit up like a Christmas tree on the outside of a house you stay clear cause it means anyone can see you and see you clearly
Bobert Robertson 4 years ago
A friend of mine had a jeep that he had put a lot of work into, lifted and nice set of wheels and mud tires on it. Lived in a typical suburb so street was full of houses, with street lights and everything. The guys were pros.... came in, cut the lines to kill the street lights, jacked his jeep up, stole all 4 wheels off the jeep plus the spare on the back, and the front bumper with the winch on it, and left it on blocks in his driveway. Security cameras saw it, but couldn't make out anything to identify them because it was dark - in and out in less than 5 minutes.
Seabeast 4 years ago
That happened to a former neighbour of mine. Ten minutes after a policeman left after taking a statement, a parking patrol officer tried to ticket and tow his vehicle because "It's illegal to park on the street without wheels".
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Chich 4 years ago
Solar powered motion lights. If the lights are on all the time people may not take much notice of someone in the yard. A motion light goes off and people tend to look to see what is going on.
Joey Marlin 4 years ago
Yup motion lights and CCTV with nice clear signs telling people that they're being filmed.
Load More Replies... Riley Quinn 4 years ago
There was a rash of vehicle break-ins in a neighborhood I lived in that we assumed were teenagers. Every single home owner installed motion sensor lights, and that was the end of that.
#9
I have to assume that the 18 steps up from street level are at least some deterrent. We don't even get Jehovah's witnesses.
jevais 4 years ago
Luck you, people who come to my door uninvited and that I don't know who they are I never open my door. Having a very loud dog barking like mad also makes these unwanted visitors go away. Never tell that you're going on vacation or leaving for a few days to anyone, except to a neighbor who is your friend.
Kim Lorton 4 years ago
Me either! I also let my dog bark his head off at them if someone knocks on the door and I don’t know them. He will attack an intruder with no problems to protect us. For that, s one of the reasons we love him dearly, even though he thinks I am a “ pup” in the pack to take care of! He is super protective of me, and if I take him to the park, he does his best to keep other dogs from me and strangers! So, I usually have to go with the hubs, and r just let him take him. That way, he can have fun. I really am a very capable woman, and strong, so I can take care of myself. We think that after a big back surgery, he began guarding me and “ helping” my husband take care of me! I am completely recovered, and my back that was repaired, are the strongest bones in my body now!
Load More Replies... Yeah, you heard 4 years ago
If these "tips" are just assumptions made by people who haven't been burgled (i.e. most people) then they are worthless.
Doug Rebertus 4 years ago
We are .10 mile off the road, through a field, over a creek, and up in the woods. I can't remember when I last saw someone not family.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
There's nothing like a fenced-in yard with a locked gate to deter the casual thief.
Something else that you should definitely consider is keeping your yard tidy. Don’t leave your bikes, grills, and other expensive equipment lying around. Lock it all in your shed. Sure, you might have planted your roots in a secure community, but you never know who might be winding their way down the path in your quiet suburban paradise. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Consider making your territory very well lit. It’s harder for burglars to do their nefarious deeds in the light and they’re more likely to avoid such homes. Motion sensors, security systems, even cameras are also potential weapons in your arsenal.
#10
I feel bad being another one of those "I'm not actually one but: people, but:
You know how some landscapers throw bags of rocks with a landscaping ad or business card in them?
Guess what? Some of these are just burglars taking a bunch of pamphlets from a landscaping business, throwing these in your yard. They drive by a day or two later. Whoever didn't pick them up is a much more likely candidate, especially if there was no car in the driveway either time.
Douglas Turner 4 years ago
Ya know, if you throw a bag of rocks with your contact info on my lawn I might just drop by and return the gift...
Roxy Eastland 4 years ago
What? I keep reading this and still don't get it. Landscapers publicise their business by throwing bags of rocks?? What does that even mean? I presume this is a US thing, but is it even that common? So bizarre.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Never encountered this in my life in the US, or Canada, so no idea where this even occurs. Maybe it's like one city ---- LA? ---- with a lot of rich people.... Landscapers publicize at the local garden stores, not with bags of rocks.
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Virginia Lim 4 years ago
Landscapers in the ATL area throw a small ziplock bag with their business card and a rock to hold it down onto the end of the driveway as they drive through the neighborhood. It's a cheap and fast way to get your business cards out. Doesn't mean I've EVER called 1 of these guys, but at least they're trying to get some business. (You've got to respect their willingness to hustle if nothing else.) I think the poster meant to say if no one has picked them up that means the homeowners are out of town. (Or like me don't ever stop at the end of my stupidly steep hillside driveway.)
Rolf Raikou 1 year ago
You are 100% correct. (I just found this on here 2 years after they posted it.) I was saying, though, some of them actually grab landscapers business cards and do this themselves on homes they are targeting. It makes it so the home owners won't suspect that their home is being cased.
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Panda-riffic 4 years ago
We get those here in the Phoenix, AZ area. The little ziplock baggies are thrown at the very end of the driveway. Years ago when you'd get a newspaper delivered you would just pick up the stupid bags and throw them away. Now six months out of the year when it's too hot to deal with it I just leave them be. They're so stupid and frustrating.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
Whenever a local start-up business attached their flyers to my postal box, I immediately grabbed them off, just in case they weren't legit.
#11
My neighbour got robbed because he installed a dog flap.
I.e. he put a man sized hole in his door.
We don't even live in a particularly nice area.
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
He probably thought that a huge dog flap woud lead thieves to think he has a huge dog.
Teresa Taylor 4 years ago
I'm betting they meant what they wrote and are shocked that anyone would climb in through a doggy door to rob a house in a non-affluent area. As in: we're so poor, robbers gotta bring s**t to steal when they break in.
Load More Replies... Samantha Hurrell 3 years ago
We have a dog flap, but she is Miniature Schnauzer, no one is getting through that dog flap.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
That's just dumb. May as well leave the key on the stoop with a sign saying no one's home.
Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
having grown up in a crap area.... if the flap can fit a 6 year old through it.... you're in trouble.
#12
I stuck with commercial burglary, residential burglary carried a risk of getting hit with a home invasion charge which increases your sentence if convicted (not to mention, you run the risk of getting shot by some redneck with a spring-loaded magnum under every flat surface in the house).
Anyway, I'd pick places based on the upkeep of their equipment. If the cash register was out of date, so was their camera system. If the clerk leaves the register open a crack while they're behind the counter, that means the safe is likely open in the back room.
It also helps to hit the places that hire felons (fast food joints, video stores, etc.) because the cops are gonna waste a lot of time looking into the staff members who have a criminal history. The closer they're looking at them, the better off I am.
Of course, this was ~15 years ago, things change.
Mercy Wanjiru 4 years ago
I feel bad for those workers...being accused and investigated when they know in their hearts they didn't do it...also someone actually banking on it
Marcellus II 4 years ago
It's almost as if "no honor amongst thieves" is a thing.
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Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
I hope there is 7 levels of hell for people like this. He intentionally victimised business owners, AND employees trying to turn their lives around... then "changed" his life because he was fortunate enough to not have scum like him victimising him for their benefit... and NOW he's all "what a good person I am, sharing my knowledge". Nope.... the dude is scum.
Evan Martin 4 years ago
@puppy. I don't know where you read "what a good person I am" in that. He (or she) had very relevant information on the topic and stated it very matter of factly. I don't think they were asking you to think they were a good person for doing it...
Load More Replies... Curry on... 4 years ago
A thief calling someone a red-neck is like the burnt pot calling the skillet black.
Kantami Blossom 4 years ago
You've got to give this person their due, they actually put some good thought into it. It's actually kind weird to see a criminal with common sense.
#13
Don't leave empty boxes from high end electronics on the curb outside your house. People tend to do this right after the holidays. Put that in your car and throw it out somewhere else, like the local recycling center. Any burglar casing your neighborhood will see that and know without even coming near your house and looking suspicious that you just got a bunch of valuable stuff just ready to be taken.
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Better advice, put them in front of the house of that annoying neighbor.
Grant Barke 4 years ago
Better still, put them in front of the burglars home.
Load More Replies... Riley Quinn 4 years ago
Good advice. Whenever I see these types of boxes out by the trash I wonder when the house will be robbed.
classbag 4 years ago
People put the boxes in their recycling or by their trash bins before trash day. People casing the neighborhood rummage through to see what new expensive items each home has.
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cookie 4 years ago
Can you just cover the label of the box, by spray painting it or something, and just leave it on the curb?
Kissarrah 4 years ago
A big TV box is still going to look like a big TV box.
Load More Replies... #14
I live in an area with a large homeless population, many which are drug addicts. Lots of smash and grab car burglaries. I can tell you this for certain. Theft is 99% visual meaning if you've left something valuable within view, your gonna lose it. And of value could even mean even an empty bag. Tweakers not gonna assume its empty they will take the chance but at the same time dudes not gonna smash a window then take the time to start rummaging around hoping to find something of value. Too time consuming especially after a large crash from your newly busted window.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
They don't break windows. They jimmy them open silently or at 3 AM when you're asleep, or have cute tools to bypass your keyless entry, etc. Learned this one the hard way. Our road keeps getting cars roken into, even when the mos tvaluable thing in view is a flippin' road atlas.
John L 4 years ago (edited)
Not me. They busted my window to take my girlfriends phone, from my car. This was near the entrance of a busy supermarket, in broad daylight. PLENTY of people had to see the mook. Only took 15 minutes.....Cops shrugged. Never made that mistake again.
Load More Replies... Mazer 4 years ago
Spot on. Even just leaving a newspaper on the seat is a guarantee break in. Also if you are doing Christmas shopping or going to a shoe, don’t return to your car to store purchases…ever!! Invest in a small cart to lug your purchases around in, the closer to the Holidays, the more parking lots are scouted by the bad guys. Even if you think you hid your purchases in s covered compartment, there are people who will just sit in their cars watching and waiting for people to unburden themselves of all those packages
memyselfandI 4 years ago
Very true. My mom always told us never to leave anything that could look valuable in sight, and the one time we did, it got stolen. Two expensive hiking backpacks. And it was the first day of a vacation in bear country… not good. We were supposed to use our vehicles as bear lockers, that doesn’t work if you don’t have a window. Fortunately we were able to find a company that would fix our window while we rotated through replacing all the stuff (the backpacks were most expensive). My backpack had the most valuable stuff in it but was on the other side of the car from the other two, so they didn’t take it. The two that got stolen just had hats, jackets, a couple library books, etc. but nothing valuable. But they tried to drill out the lock, couldn’t get in, tried to use a crowbar to pop out the window, couldn’t, and eventually just shattered the glass. Mom was proud that our car put up that much of a fight. :)
Andrea Pereira 4 years ago
My mom used to have an older vintage car. Doors locks didn't work, but windows got broken anyway for something as little as an old coat in the backseat. Total headache, as the windows replacement were expensive and difficult to find. We sometimes thought about just placing an sign saying "dear robber, doors are unlocked, please don't smash the windows".
Regine Lyne 4 years ago
I used to work in an area with lots of these car smash and grabs. After enough us us had window replaced too many times, we would just leave our cars unlocked, nothing in the car. Glove box open, etc. Or out signs on the car.. nothing is in here. Don't break the window it's open! No one ever had the car stolen. I worked there 4 years.
Lunar Bicycle 4 years ago
Portland, Oregon has always been a smash and grab town in regards to cars, and it’s only gotten worse. Leave nothing in your car. Smash a car window at 3 in the morning, grab something, and you’re around the corner and a block away before anyone can see you. It’s so bad here that glass companies are backlogged for weeks.
Samantha Hurrell 3 years ago
My parents always make us either remove any good easily stolen goods for the car, or hide it.
#15
Motion sensing flood lights outside.
No big bushes in front of windows where someone could hide. Thorned bushes are always good for under windows, if you keep them close enough.
A dog is nice.
If you can't afford an alarm and security cameras, fake cameras and alarm contacts on windows can be a deterrent, hopefully. Better to just get the real thing. Remember any security footage could possibly be obtained and used against you if something goes down. If you do shady things, cameras could be a bad idea.
Dead bolt locks on all exterior doors. Keyed outside and inside if there's windows in or next to the door... but then only take the key out when nobody is home, for fire safety.
If you aren't always home at night, get a few timers for lamps inside.
Pro level:
Get a cheap tv. Like a CRT 13 inch that nobody wants. Put it in a cabinet or wall unit type thing, so you can close the door to hide it when guests come over. Put it on a timer to stay on until very late, and set a light timer in a bedroom to come on when it goes off.
Install vertical blinds on a window across from the tv. Vertical blinds are great, because you can angle them for a very limited view, so the house looks less closed up and more inhabited. Anyway, in this case, angle the blinds so you can clearly see the tv, but nothing else in the room. Set volume so you can just barely hear it outside.
This does two things: the light and sound make it seem like someone could be home. And, a thief may look in, see the old 13 incher and just be like damn this dude's stuff sucks, I'm going somewhere else.
lara 4 years ago
I had a cop tell me that if you have a home security system do NOT leave their sign in the yard. He says that tells the burglars/whatever exactly how they need to break into the house. Instead, he said, leave a sign from a different security company. That will either stop them or make it take so long they just will give up.
Mazer 4 years ago
Security systems have gone down in prices considerably. Don’t invest in fake ones. Just font leave high priced items in view..ever. Radios snd TVs don’t cut it, career criminals know. It’s easy enough to knock on the door to determine if someone is home or not. Dogs can be great, but can also be an issue. I have seen security footage of dogs greeting burglars to get pets, and of burglars kicking dogs, or just putting the dog in a room and shutting the door.
BrookieTheWookie 4 years ago
Totally unrelated, but we moved to a new house recently, way out in the country, but the people in the town near out property heard about us, so, we usually say at least 2 cars a day slowly driving by to learn about us, the only people that where polite where the only other people that lived on the road actually went up the driveway to welcome us to the neighborhood, we got tired of it, so we put a 'smile your on camera' sign, you can't see the house very well from the road, but you can see the road really well from the house, and no more noisy neighborhood
Al Christensen 4 years ago
The rental house I mentioned above had motion sensing floodlights. But bushes and trees moving in the wind would set them off. I spent too many nights jumping out of bed, adrenalin pumping, trying to spot prowlers that weren't there.
Dilly Millandry 4 years ago
We have CCTV (four separate cameras) and a large monitor - you can then see that nothing is there. Our lights are often going on because of cats, foxes etc - a good look at the monitor and I can see that there is nothing there.
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Gregg Long 3 years ago
There are these led devices that flash on an off that actually simulate the flickering of a tv. They cost a lot less than a tv.
Samantha Hurrell 3 years ago
My dad will always set timed lights anytime we go on holiday. We have a couple of motion lights, one right near one of the bedrooms.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
This should be common sense, but I've seen way too many homes/apts who don't follow this advice.
Laurie Ostergaard-Overbey 4 years ago
this one goes with my 'boots outside the door' comment: how about put out a pair of really worn, lousy quality boots? says many things: big guy, too broke to buy new boots, too cheap to buy good boots. prolly nothing worth stealing inside lol
#16
If you're moving into a newly built complex, CHANGE THE LOCKS. Just over a year ago, my housemate and his girlfriend came back to our place to find that laptops and jewellry had been nicked, and there was no sign of forced entry - also we live in South Africa, so doors are always locked. Turns out the builders were cheap, and used the same three types of locks for the front doors. Strongly suspect that ex-employees of the company did a short term rental of a unit (three months probably) and just took notes of everyone's comings and goings. Then just wander to a unit, try one of the three keys and then casually stroll out with a laptop bag stuffed with goodies. We weren't the only unit to be hit, and the HOA only sent out a notice to be vigilant after I spoke to the niece of one of the people who were on the board.
Eucritta 4 years ago
Any time you move into a new place, it's a good idea to change the locks. You have no idea who might have spares.
Toni Alabakovski 4 years ago
That should be common sense, I never once thought of doing that before 🤦♀️ I feel stupid now lol
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buttonpusher 4 years ago
Same with tenancies. Ask the LL to change the locks in case the previous tenants had an extra key cut.
Aye Emme 3 years ago
One Seattle building I was in just swapped the doorknobs with other empty units between tenants. The parking garage door code was NEVER changed, so possibly all tenants for the last 10-20 years had the code, as well as anyone who didn't live there who ever rented a parking space. Car break-ins happened the most, sometimes the storage units. Someone even once found someone sleeping in their car.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
You should change the locks to your new place and change them after a housemate moves out.
Katie Lutesinger 4 years ago
"And sitting on the couch with a can of your beer is the great big hairy tattooed bloke who used to live here!" 'I let meself in.' "Night and Day Locksmiths, Night and Day Locksmiths - Steve and Jan have the key to end your misery!" (Seriously that old radio jingle was so catchy!)
Rissie 4 years ago
We recently moved into our new home in a newly built area. Some neighbors have posted pictures publicly on Instagram, big ol' smiles in front of their new homes and the keys very visible. Two even have closeups of their keys... My husband has taken up lock picking as a hobby so he was laughing his behind off, because it's like posting your pincode. He could make those keys now, because they have the same profile as the keys our home came with, so it's not even a challenge to figure that out. And yes, we have new locks installed ;)
F. H. 4 years ago
I don't think that's how it works, not in a newly built home. Modern keys are usually assymetric, so one side won't help you much.
Load More Replies... #17
Signs painted on or near buildings/residences that are deemed to be 'easy pickings', so to speak. Also signs that act as warnings. For example, the sign for 'alarmed' looks like a W with a line drawn horizontally across the top, while a simple X could mean a good target.
This is true where I am in England, but I know not whether these symbols carry over to other countries.
*not a former burglar. I would be wealthier if I was. I would also have a cat called Dingo who would help me on my missions.
Andy 4 years ago
Yeah, it's an urban legend that comes up every time someone sees any sort of marking
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Lance d'Boyle 4 years ago
In the States during the depression, hobos had a marking system similar to this one, though simpler: they usually indicated whether the house was friendly or not, if they would give you water or food or more, whether there was dog and whether you should stay clear. I've heard of something similar for travellers in the UK.
Mandy Delaforce (PC Girl) 4 years ago
This is an old wives tale. Nobody marks houses. They just take photo if they want to come back later.
F. H. 4 years ago
That's an old wives' tale. Maybe it was true in the 19th century, when communication and travel was more difficult. Modern burglars don't need to leave marks for anyone because the own things like... cars and phones. If they find a good target, they just tell their friends and probably come along to show them.
#18
Young redditors may not have heard of this thing; it's called 'radio'. Leave a talk station on when you're out. No burglar's gonna come in if he hears voices, unless it's a home invasion. Leave a light on, doesn't matter if you put a timer on it or not. Just a low level light, like it's a night light for going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. A dog is another big plus. Hard for anyone to get past a dog in the dark. They don't need to see you to bark and bite you. Have never been burglarized, ever, and I'm 67 years old. That is all.
Mazer 4 years ago
The biggest problem here is that burglars will knock on the front door, they will stand and listen. If they don’t hear movement chances are they are coming in, radio on, tv on, it matters not. These people are career criminals, they know.
Kate 4 years ago
I read an interview with a retired burglar, and he specifically said he wouldn't, because he didn't want to encounter someone just getting out of the bathroom or something.
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F. H. 4 years ago
Again: Do NOT use timers. Burglars will notice things happening too regular.
Glirpy 4 years ago
You can set timers to go on at different times on different days, especially if they are hooked into a smart home.
Load More Replies... Riley Quinn 4 years ago
Switching up your routine is one of the best, and least costly, ideas. Burglars will case a house for this type of information.
Oskar vanZandt 4 years ago (edited)
One of my cats growls when something catches her attention... good alert for any unexpected sound I can't hear.
Lady Vader 4 years ago
Surely you know both words mean the same thing and there's no need for you to police someone's correct vocabulary choices.
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#19
I'm not answering the question directly, but I am answering it indirectly:
The vast majority of burglaries are perpetrated by people who have been inside your home before
This is very important to realize. When you have guests over that you don't know well (maybe at a Halloween party), lock all of the doors to bedrooms, and don't have anything super valuable just laying out to show. Most of the time they won't take anything during the party, but they will come back later... with friends.
Bobert Robertson 4 years ago
So you're indirectly telling us directly that you and your friends have done/continue to do this.
Rissie 4 years ago
Yeah, that sounds like BS. I have seen my share of break ins and they were always by outsiders that did observe their victim. My elderly neighbor had it happen twice in a short time (probably because of what was described in another post in this thread). They are people from around though who know what they're dealing with. I lived in a particularly bad part of the city and it was the stupid break ins.
Dilly Millandry 4 years ago
I know three people who have been burgled and each had been watched by professional burglars who learned their routine. One was interrupted by the homeowners unexpected return because he had changed his routine.
Load More Replies... Marco Conti 4 years ago
True, I was burglarized by kids that worked for a post-fire cleaning company. They were laser focused on my guitars, as I had some expensive ones (but they also took a couple of el-cheapo. Good luck selling those. Last thing: they didn't take my most precious guitar, a beat up classical my father bought in spain in 1952. That would have broken me.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
Trying to be a friendly neighbor in my new building, I allowed another tenant to come in for a visit. His behavior was a red flag because he was more interested in looking about the room than in the conversation. No one has been allowed in since.
Mazer 4 years ago
Not true. The vast majority of people who get their homes burglarized never met the career criminal stealing their things. While there are many incidents of family and friends ripping off people, the majority of residential burglaries are done by career criminals they scoped out your neighborhood and have seen something they want. They are opportunistic criminals, they will steal your vehicle you left warming up in the driveway, chances are they have seen something which has made their sticky fingers itch.
Jennifer Germain 3 years ago
my kids would always have friends over, once my daughter's longtime friend brought someone she didn't know over, took my camera, some jewelry and various other items. Never happened when I knew the kids as I probably also knew their parents.
Kelli Lindsay 4 years ago
The Sharon Tate murders happened on Cielo Drive bc Charles Manson had been to a party there once when it owned by Terry Melcher and was unaware that he no longer lived there.
Kelli Lindsay 4 years ago
And he picked the LaBianca's house bc he'd partied next door the year before.
Load More Replies... Yeah, you heard 4 years ago
Who has locks on their bedrooms? Just because you can't trust your friends and family?!
Shelli Aderman 4 years ago
Many interior door knobs now come standard with locks. Mostly on the primary bedroom with many other bedrooms. So parents can have some alone time… 😉
Load More Replies... #20
Not a burglar but lots happens in my area.
• People coming by who are either sketchily fundraising for something or "working for so-and-so company" when you weren't expecting anyone. They're casing your house and figuring out when you're home. They're also probably figuring out the best way in and out of your place.
• Leaving boxes of big ticket items visible in your garbage or alley.
• Depending on who/where, sometimes they'll stake out near your home or do drive-bys several times to see when you're home.
Bobert Robertson 4 years ago
Note, fellow pandas, when you purchase that 80" QLED television, dispose of the packaging on recycling day on your jerk neighbours curb with their garbage (don't do this, it's illegal in many places)
Rissie 4 years ago
Don't do this indeed. But you know, sometimes the wind does move things. So always be sure to take of any labels indicating it was yours to begin with.
Load More Replies... DonS 4 years ago
That... Remember when I was a teenager and living with my parents, we received the visit of a "water heater inspector" and he asked me who was home, what time does my parents come back from work usually and if he can inspect the water heater. Needless to say, alarm bells rang in my head and I ask about his credentials. He showed me his clearly fake credentials (he didn't know my dad worked for the said company and they don't do spontaneous water heater inspection) and went away saying he'll come back later to talk with an adult. He never did. Clearly casing the neighborhood.
R De Backer 4 years ago
Thank God you were careful. Good thinking on your part and thank you for raising this.
Load More Replies... Sabs 4 years ago
This happened to us a few weeks back, dude came to the door looking for a named person, but obviously not me or my husband. Rattled off our address which is on a plaque over our garage. No explanation after that just walked away. I don’t think he was expecting anyone home during the day, as I was home but my husband took the car so it wasn’t in the driveway. Very unnerving.
Mazer 4 years ago
New laws in many states make door to door soliciting a bit tougher by requiring the salesperson or company to get permits. If you are unsure of who is knocking at your door, call the non-emergency line for the police department and ask if your neighborhood has permitted companies. Our city started this years ago, ANY organization (religion, business, scouts etc), must be permitted by the city. The city keeps track of the number of people, their ID information and allows them one neighborhood to canvas in a day between specific hours. I love the idea, our city actually puts out information on Next Door or other website to keep residents informed.
Samantha Hurrell 3 years ago
That is I'm glad we have recycling bins in the UK, just bury that sort of things near the bottom.
SAF saf 4 years ago (edited)
This one should be alot' higher on the list! If the Gas/Electric/Water company is knocking on your door ask for I.D. to verify and then call afterwards to verify. My mom's had people knock not even wearing a uniform or even have a work I.D. The story is usually pretty ridiculous to. They're checking who's home and if you have a dog.
#21
very few references to CCTV in here, my dad's place got broken into the day before the sale closed, likely by the previous owner. (bank repo). He installed CCTV cams all over the property and hasn't had an issue since. They are really very inexpensive, you can get a full set of 8 cameras at costco for under 1000$ us last time I looked, with a NVR. The hardest part is stringing the wires, so if you arent handy you may have to pay someone. It goes without saying that you need to stream at least motion events to an offsite location however, as it is possible a burglar could just take your recordings. The added benefit is you get recordings of every time you wipe out shoveling the drive way, or when the purolator man throws your package at the door and runs away instead of placing it down like a non-savage.
memyselfandI 4 years ago
What’s that? A movie reference, a different term I’m just not familiar with? Maybe it’s a British thing.
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buttonpusher 4 years ago
My parents have CCTV and a monitor on the wall in the living room. It's great for unwanted callers too. Even the dog looks at it and understands how it works, lol.
Oskar vanZandt 4 years ago
NVR refers to a "network video recorder" and most are backed up for a minimum of 24 hours online and a month or so on their hard drive... If a crime is committed and the burglar steals the NVR with the hard drive (1TB minimum) they will not be able to erase the footage stored online.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
Just make sure they're real and actually recording. A good thief knows a fake instantaneously.
June 4 years ago
Aaaaaand that's why "you need to stream at least motion events to an offsite location"
Load More Replies... #22
In the autobiography of Malcolm X, he said that if he went to a house, and the bathroom light was on, he didn’t go in. Said something like ‘a guy in the bathroom could come out anytime’
Bobert Robertson 4 years ago
Yeah but if the light in the bathroom just turned on, you likely have 30 minutes until that guy comes out.
#23
A nice place in a rural area, no close neighbors, and a short driveway. Pay attention to a strange vehicle driving by at different hours. Get a camera, put it on your front door, they will generally knock first. Do not keep valuables in a portable safe. Good luck.
John Otruba 4 years ago
I have one sign in back and one in driveway "caution police work dog on premises" everyone on my road was broken into in a single day but mine! (I also keep 2 German Shepherds for company"
David carro 4 years ago
Every house on your street has been robbed? Where do you live?
Load More Replies... phoenix crystalite 4 years ago
I saw that a dude’s dad put his keys in a sfe so he lost the privilege of driving but he just put the safe in the car and truned on the car
arienne libbrecht 4 years ago
In a rural area like that, I'd get a driveway alarm, and a doorbell camera that you can speak through.
Dilly Millandry 4 years ago
You also need cameras at the back. Burglars take one look at the doorbell camera at the front and will head round the back. Or professionals will have cased the property and will come back with their faces covered and disable those cameras as they are placed at a nice convenient height for grabbing and damaging, and then just carry on if it's clear no-one is in. You need cameras that are not within reach - still can buy systems you can speak through. Though speaking through the camera? The burglar can usually tell if you aren't at home still. It sometimes makes it more obvious. The worst you can do is call the police and hope they get there in time. Most things are far from perfect if you've got a professional.
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#24
When people proudly advertise their security system. You can usually find a forum of people who've found the latest ways to crack the system. Also if they advertise being a gun owner without being a vet(I knew before I enlisted that veterans advertise their status and branch) that's a solid target. Usually kept in an outdated safe by an owner who hardly knew how to use it let alone be able to control nerves from affecting things like trigger control or aligning their sights. You could always sell a gun for more cash as jewels or a laptop if you has the right connections. I never tried neighborhood's with an active watch, usually meant any targets had a good relationship with the cops and any calls would be handled with a lot more care. Also i'd never rob a place with a dog, especially a pit bull, rottweiler or German Shepherd from the pound. Drug dealers were a natural target for home invasion if you had the confidence. Crowbar open the door and put the main occupant on their ass. Once they see you're not a junky and have every intention to kill them if they don't listen to you they usually give up solid cash and/or flashy valuable's you can pawn by going to a county and hour or two away. They can't really call the cops and draw attention to themselves.
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Drug dealers are known for having loads of illegal weapons and very tight security. It's very unlikely they care if you're a junky or not, they'll kill you and dump your body somewhere on the street to avoid any contact with the police.
von Funnyname 4 years ago
drug dealers typically don't have all of that. Drug lords, in movies and TV, do, but your average dope dealer down the street probably doesn't have a couch much less a security detail
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Mazer 4 years ago
There is only so much one can do as a homeowner to protect yourself and/or your property. My sisters friends bought a cute little home not far from town, it was broken into every other week. Turns out it was a drug dealers home before they bought it. So knowing it would take awhile for word to get out that the dealer was no longer there, they put their valuables in storage. They said it took about s year for the word on the streets to get out, then no more break ins and they got their things out of storage.
Kelly Craig 2 years ago
ROOM ELEPHANT: News is biased, even to the point of extreme stupidity. Reasonable minds know this. They know news types think themselves smarter than the likes of Jefferson, Franklin and Madison combined. To that end, they promote anti-gun reports. They do not report the MANY incidence the invader was put down, with prejudice. There are SEVERAL incidence of: (1) a neighbor stepping in and ending a POS who was going to do his evil on their neighbor; (2) young boys and girls, home alone, who took down invaders; (3) . . . . My house is dark. It's just old me and my wife. Our house is dark at night, but we've lived there so long we move about it with ease. Day or night, we know where you are if you step foot inside our door. We have a shotgun in one place, pistols here and there, a carbine and the mandatory AR. You'd be unlikely to find any of them because I have a large shop and do custom woodwork. I rather hide some things and have them available than have them in a safe.
Kelly Craig 2 years ago
Then there is the fact that runs counter to this: Security cameras, advertised or not, are like door locks and padlocks. They deter MOST scum who would have tried for an easy target. Too, a forum can't tell you how to take down a given system if the signage is generic (just warns wouldbe's) cameras are on the premises. Note that many do take that approach.
Rcktgirl05 4 years ago
That would be funny to see them break into my brothers house. He's not a vet but he's a ultra conservative 2A supporter with a crap load of guns everywhere and basically dreams of the day he gets to defend his family.
Evan Martin 4 years ago
Sounds like a lovely guy...dreams of the day he can kill others...
Load More Replies... #25
I would check out a house several times over two days. If there was no sign of movement -- no lights coming on or off, no curtains moved, newspapers left on the driveway -- I was interested. Is the house in a nice neighborhood? Is it well kept? If so I figured they had nice stuff. Next question: Is there an easy escape route? Woods in the back yard were excellent. Next question: Is there a window hidden from view that I can smash if I have to?
Bobert Robertson 4 years ago
Just be careful your "very_large_ears" don't get caught in the remaining shards of glass on the window.
#26
If you open your door and a $1/2/5.00 etc, bill floats down, somebody is targeting your house.
When I was a precious angel, I used to wedge a bill on top/side of the front door. I'd check again in the early hours to see if the money was taken or put back in the wrong place. If it was, I'd leave the place alone.
I'd recommend if it happens, wether it be money or other that falls when you unlock the front door, to let the police know someone is targeting houses for a robbery.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Oh for.... I never met anyone who left good money like that. And who'd "put it bqck in the wrong place"? What does that even mean? Who wouldn't just say, "WTF?" and shove the money in a pocket?
Nicholas Kraemer 4 years ago
Why leave money and not a door hanger for a local delivery restaurant. How much money has this burglar lost over the years?
ZAPanda 4 years ago
This one makes no sense. I'd keep the money or take it inside. Yet i would be home. How is leaving the money in the doorframe a sign of vulnerability?
Yeah, you heard 4 years ago
I guess if the Money is left there it could indicate the owner off the house is on holiday. But really, I cannot imagine a criminal leaving money at other people's houses. Why not use a scrap of paper?
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Alex the Country Dog 4 years ago
I call b.s. on this--someone wanting to give out a "clever" sounding tip. No burglar would go around putting cash in doors.
Jeff Striks 4 years ago
Oh I get it. If you find money by your front door, yeah you're gonna pocket it. Anyone would. If the burglar leaves money by the door, and a week later it's still there, it likely means no one's home. So you'll get robbed. The money disappearing means people are home. The money remaining in place means no one's home. Or at least, I think that's what this post means?
Shelli Aderman 4 years ago
Yes. And WHY USE MONEY? Why not something simple, instead?
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Panda-riffic 4 years ago
Anyone remember the movie "The Sting" with Robert Redford and Paul Newman? Great scene where Redford's character slips a piece of paper in his own door to confirm his place had been broken into.
Grant Barke 4 years ago
You going to need to put much more money there if you want to take my TV.
Meami 4 years ago
I know thieves leave placards and cards at front doors, the funny thing for many people, is they never use their front door. We go in and out of our garage, garage door, and back doors. If someone leaves a card at our front door, we might not see it for days until we get a delivery.
Kar Red Roses 4 years ago
In my city they tag you by stuffing delivery menus around your door under your doormat, which also used to be common practice by restaurants. Now most homes and buildings have signs up “no flyers no menus”
#27
A common scam in my neighborhood is to come to the door trying to sell a security system and try and get you to let them in and talk about what you need. This way they find out about what kind of security you already have. Some come as proselytizers too, carrying a bible and dressed nice, then they ask for water or to use your bathroom so they can get in and case your place.
Rissie 4 years ago (edited)
I like how companies that actually sell alarm systems here in the Netherlands _are_ the actual scam. They install it for a lot more money than you would nowadays buying a few camera's yourself. And they do not do any active surveillance. Only responsive. They do charge you a monthly fee for keeping images (for more than any Cloud provider nowadays would). They fload new area's with door to door sales children and are very notorious for being little jerks. They rob your household within the letter of the law. Very annoying.
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
In my house the toilet is right beside the frontdoor, so they wouldn't get any intel out of using it. Best they could find there is a birthday calendar telling them that Aunty Jean has her birthday in a few days. And a few wall tiles with profound quotes like "Live, Love, Fornicate." and "If you need a sign, this is it."
F. H. 4 years ago
Now I understand why many houses have their toilets with the window right next to the front door.
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Memere 4 years ago
I flat out don't let any door-to-door salesperson or proselytizer in my house, ever. They can pee their pants for all I care, or wear adult diapers. The only people I let in are family & friends, service people who have been called by us, or my neighbor kids selling cookies & trash bags!
J Kwon 4 years ago
If someone seems fishy--even a cop--don't let them in. Politely ask them to wait outside, lock your door, look up the number, call to check. Had a sheriff in our county that was fired. This cop would go to a door (we're in the rural Midwest with lots of older, trusting people), chat in a friendly way about some "things that were happening in the neighborhood that you should be aware of," then make an excuse to come in (bathroom, water) or be invited in out of hospitality. He would then take small electronics, jewelry, or anything else he could fit in his pocket. We also have a group of scam artists that pose as city workers. They have all the gear and look totally legit. They even have a business card that you can call to verify or "schedule an appointment if there are any further issues." They say there is a leak somewhere nearby and for your safety they need to emergency shut of your gas/water or check to see if you also have a leak.
#28
Turn on exterior lights. Have an alarm sign in front yard. Alarm stickers on windows. Barking dog.
Id skip that house
Marek Bubeník 3 years ago
Funny to find my photo here he is actually a nice dog this is how he smiling :)
#29
There was an old show on Discovery or A&E called 'To Catch A Thief' where 2 ex-B&E guys would get an owerns permission to break in to the house in the future. Then they would do it and video it and give security improvements. Excellent watch if you can find it. One of the biggest things was people being too lazy to lock their doors or thinking they could hide their valuables (a good theif can completely trash a house in 10 min and find everything of value).
lara 4 years ago
We have a safe. The only things we keep in it are papers: deeds, will, birth certificates. Everything else is off site. I have two pieces of jewelry, my wedding rings and a necklace my husband gave me for our 25th anniversary. That's it. The single most valuable things we "own" are the dogs. Anyone ever hurts one of my dogs and there is no place they can hide.
Oskar vanZandt 4 years ago
Agree with your last sentence but in my case they are two cats...
Load More Replies... Kantami Blossom 4 years ago (edited)
That is why I don't have any "valuables" I never have cash, I don't own any jewlery, my phone is old, And my laptop is garbage. I do have some items that are worth decent money but your average burglar isn't going to be fence duelling grade lightsabers, and my Kindle is always with me and I always have a knife at hand so it's not in their interest to risk being gutted to steal a kindle.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
Folx with minimum carpentry skills can make false walls/cubbies that even an expert would be puzzled by. It's really not that difficult to hide your valuables in "plain sight".
Kelly Craig 2 years ago
Rare earth magnets. They are good for at least 50 years. I used them in my kitchen build to solve problems that would have wasted space without them, unless I got real tricky in my design.
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Nicole Holt 4 years ago
Good thing my place already looks trashed - like someone already went through it and didn't find anything of value....LOL
Shelli Aderman 4 years ago
It takes a thief: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Takes_a_Thief_(2005_TV_series)
#30
Not a burglar, but when I drive to work in the evening when it is dark.... I can't tell you how many big-screen TVs I can see through large unshaded windows in people's homes. They are just advertising. I keep all my windows shaded. Also, I dont have any big screen TVs. I prefer smaller TVs that are closer to me (within a few feet) instead of a giant tv that is across the room.
ZAPanda 4 years ago
So I do the opposite. I've got zero valuables except my laptop. So I leave the curtains open. Burglars won't take books.
Tee Witt 4 years ago
Shame that, I have loads and I have no idea what to do with them.
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Marco Conti 4 years ago
I have a huge TV. It's over 10 years old and if they took it they'd do me a favor since my wife is of the idea that "It's perfectly fine". No it's not. It's ancient. Please someone steal my TV.
VulcansAreSexy 4 years ago
Any screen is a big screen if you hold it close enough to your face
Rannveig Ess 4 years ago
I agree with this. Even if I run to the store at night when it's dark , and people are in their homes doing Whatever, I'm amazed at the wide open curtains or blinds, and lights on all over. I can see everything on their walls, their TVs, shelves with crystal items or other things in them. It's like looking in a fish bowl.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
As dusk approaches, my room-darkening blinds are closed. Ambient light might escape around the edges, but no information on valuables escapes.
Mazer 4 years ago (edited)
The big screen TVs are not a big ticket item (they are awkward to carry and hard to act natural while carrying one). jewelry, cash, tools and collectibles are hot items, as is your car.
Yeah, you heard 4 years ago
Seeing that the tv is on may show someone is home, so deter burglars
Rose the Cook 4 years ago
Makes sense, so many people these days seem to leave curtains and blinds wide open with lights on at night leaving all their possessions, often including their bare bodies, for anyone passing to see.
Teresa Taylor 4 years ago
I don't have blinds or curtains in the living room. The ones in the kitchen are always open. Of course, I live in the country and can't see the road from my house, so I don't think it matters much. If anyone can see my stuff, they're trespassing and my dogs will tell them to leave the property posthaste.
buttonpusher 4 years ago
I never had my blinds open at the front of my house downstairs. Upstairs was fine and out back because that was well covered.
#31
I look at home security as concentric rings of defense. Outer: •Don't peacock, keep a low profile • Don't let people know you're out of town except trusted neighbors who'll pick up the paper. Stop the mail, make the house look lived in via timers, radio or tv. • Get an alarm and put up stickers everywhere, install cameras if possible • Lock your doors at all time, even when home, use deadbolts and door bars • Motion detector security lights • Security fence. Locked. • Random work schedule, come home for lunch or work from home on occasion Inner: • Big dog(or little yappy bastard) I wish you could have seen the low running happen when a canvasser rang the bell and our Neopolitan mastiff and Dogue de Bordeaux launched themselves at the window • Gun safe bolted to the slab and hidden in a dead bolted closet • Insurance to replace what gets taken So: Nothing to see here>hard to get in>dog to make em think>safe if they're in the house>insurance if all else fails
#32
Not a burglar, but a guy who is paranoid about keeping his [stuff] from being stolen.... Buy a $3 blinking LED (from ebay) and install it on top of your car's dash. Especially a blue one as that screams fancy aftermarket alarm. Keeps the neighborhood 3am car-hoppers away. Car-hopping is basically what kids do. They walk around neighborhoods and apartment complex parking lots trying car door handles to see if any are unlocked so they can steal anything they can inside. Some are not above breaking into a locked vehicle if they spy a purse, backpack or something else theft-worthy within sight. I've read that 3am is THE optimal time to hit an apartment complex parking lot.
Scarlett 4 years ago
Saw some guys trying to steal a car at around 8:30 at night, but it was December so it was hella dark. I was kind of surprised, it was a decent neighborhood and the whole place was lit up with street lights and Christmas lights. (It might be noted that guys came tearing out of there as soon as they saw my cousin and I booking it back to his house)
Mazer 4 years ago
Most burglaries occur between 9-5, when people are at work and people walking around a neighborhood does not look as suspicious, kids looking to joy ride is different, they will usually strike at night if on the weekends. The closer you live to a high school the higher the possibility of your home getting burglarized. I personally had a cat broken into at night, turns out the guy had a thing about going into peoples homes while then slept - creepy. He was caught within s month BECAUSE he was hitting houses in the wee hours of the night
lara 4 years ago
None of this works in SF. The car thieves just walk down the street, looking into cars. They see something, they break the windows, throw whatever the find in the car that their accomplice is driving and move on to the next car IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. Cops have been ordered NOT to arrest anyone who steals less that 999 bucks, because the DA won't prosecute.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Nope. The car-bashers got the neighbors who use this. They stole th elight. Weird but true.
#33
Don't leave anything around for a burglar to climb or move to help in entering your house....get timers for your lights...conveniently forget your mouse trap genius youngest son at home.... Don't leave tasty burgers around for any random burglars
Yeah, you heard 4 years ago
Leave kids home alone, and only eat disgusting burgers - got it, Thanks, great advice.
#34
Open garages. Unlocked doors. Doggy doors. I was a small kid that was able to fit through a dog door, and probably had stolen the most valuable items right out of the garage. Leaving your keys in your unlocked car. Stacked newspapers. Dogs are the best deterrent; the louder the better.
#35
Obligatory "not a burglar", but my aunt's house was burgled three times, twice while I lived there. One sign is: your pets acting weird. The day my aunt left out of town, my cousins came to pick me and my sister up and her dog would NOT come into the house. He ran outside and hid under a bush. We suspect the burglar was either inside the house at the time (there were many hiding spots), or around the corner of the house, hiding. Either way, next day my sister and I get home from school and the cops and one of my other cousins are there because the neighbor noticed the front door was open.
#36
No (ex) burglar, but this past summer when my parents were on holiday, we were staying at their house while we remodeled our own kitchen. One morning I found some dust/sand on the windowsill inside the windows at the front of the house, but didn't think much of it ('what the have our weird cats done this time?'). Cleaned it up a bit and went about my day. When my parents came home from their holiday a week later, they called me saying that they had found the shutting mechanism at the top window screwed loose, so it could open all the way. They also found more dirt in the windowsill (apparently I didn't clean it all) and said it looked like a footprint. Nothing was stolen, but we think someone came into the house but had to run because they heard something (my brothers are often home but upstairs, so it may have looked like no one was there). When I went to my parents next, I checked out the window and found that the outside windowsill had a white cross in chalk on it. I assume this was a sign to other burglars for something? Anyway, we got lucky.
#37
For kids or whatever that are alone and someone is knocking on the door, what I always did if they looked legit (as well as their vehicle) and my parents were actually expecting someone at some point, when they asked if anyone was home I'd say that my dad was in a conference call. It implies that an adult is home, as well as on the phone with other people, and gives a reason why they otherwise wouldn't be disturbed.
J. Normal 4 years ago
It is a catch 22 - If they do not answer door = no one home = good target. Many thieves WILL NOT break into a home with someone in it. And if they do - they might panic and kill the kids. I prefer the Dad is on a conference call / in the bathroom idea - all while the kid calls Mom or Dad. With the Availability of cheap security I like having a camera at the door also.
Load More Replies... Oskar vanZandt 4 years ago
Invest in a Ring Smart doorbell with camera and audio... the young person does not have to open the door to tell them(the uninvited/unexpected party) their parent is napping, on a conference call or whatever.
#38
Drive through your neighborhood during daytime, late afternoon and nighttime hours. Do the neighbors even look out of their windows at me? Do they notice that a stranger is slowly cruising through their neighborhood? Are there people working on their lawns, walking the dogs, kids out playing? How are the houses physically secured? Do they have fences, gates, dogs, etc? Are the garages open with no garage doors? Can I see what's inside? Tools, fancy cars, motorcyles, a door that leads INTO the main house via the garage? The best neighborhoods are the ones that have neighbors who do not look out for each other. The ones where you can drive through and no one gives a rat's ass that you are coming or going. Elderly neighbors are a plus, too. Also-- is the neighborhood located near major freeways, onramps? Looking for escape routes should the cops come. Is there signage/stickers stating that the houses have alarms? Motion sensing lights?
Oskar vanZandt 4 years ago
Here in the UK motorways are best avoided when making an escape after committing a crime because there are APNR cameras everywhere... in case of a serious crime, the footage from these is reviewed.
Ellie Rosser 4 years ago
Plus they're usually jammed to a stop with traffic.
Load More Replies... Kim Lorton 4 years ago
Ve gone and stood on my walkway when I see a car going down our street more than twice or rouse up and down. I also will take a picture of the car, and I never see that car again if it doesn’t belong to a neighbor.
#39
Not a burglar, but one night we came home late, garage had been egged. Cops promised to step up patrols that night. Next morning wake up and 4 houses broken into, stolen car dumped, and one stolen from the house next to us, all within 10 houses of us.... First off - way to go on stepping up patrols officer... But we also found other neighbors had been egged, turned out they came through at 11pmish, egged houses that had dogs to mark them I guess????? Came back at 2am and robbed the non-egged houses... Thanks pupper!
#40
Sorry not a burglar, but I have some info to share. I used to live alone in a small bungalow in Central Phoenix. My house was broken into TWICE while I was home and in the afternoon even. Both times, my dog alerted me by her low, guttural growl and then some loud, violent barks. I'd never heard anything like that out of a dog. She knew the difference between a visitor getting ready to knock, and someone working on the door itself. Thank goodness for that fearless little Bichon. I once owned a house that had been built in 1950 by a civil engineer who ended up with a debilitating condition which eventually created a situation requiring a wheelchair, and then eventually he was bedridden. He decided he needed to make sure he knew when someone was in the house. So he had a system installed which consisted of a bunch of small areas with wires beneath the carpet. There was a toggle switch on the wall near each area which they would switch on every night, and if walked on, a loud buzz would sound throughout the house. We couldn't figure out what the toggles were for but didn't worry too much about it. But when we pulled up the carpet and found the wires, my spouse started doing research and figured it out.
#41
A lot of burglars that break in threw a window will throw a rock at the window and break it and then wait while hidden for about an hour. If nothing happens, then they go in.
ZAPanda 4 years ago
yep this happened to me. However, since I own almost nothing, they got some watches, a power tool, and a bottle of wine.
#42
My friends used to break into houses until they tried drunk and got caught. They would keep an eye on a house and note things down like what times cars were there, when lights were on and off. Just for patterns. When they were positive no one was there, they would do the "does she live here" test. They would send a girlfriend to knock. No answer would mean it's a go, if someone did answer the girl would just ask if a random girl lived there and apologized when told they didn't. Then it would be called off.
#43
Being gone at set times paints a target on your back. If you're casing a joint and it's always empty on Sundays at 10 AM you know exactly when to strike. As for things that deter burglars, if someone wants in, they're going to get in. Cameras and Security alarms can scare people off from an attempt or upon trying to enter, but it's not a guarantee. My advice is to keep a TV or Radio playing when you're away from home. If you can hear it from outside of the place, it will be difficult to establish if someone is inside or not. People don't generally leave them on while they're away.
Rose Rosee 4 years ago
I have to disagree with this one somewhat. If you have pets many people leave on the tv or radio, usually tv so the animal won't feel alone.
#44
Not a burglar but here's my tip: if your neighbor gets robbed in broad daylight, you have to assume you're next. I once lived in a converted garage behind a house. My four roommates all lived in the main house. I was unemployed for several months and since I had no kitchen in my shack, I'd go in and out of the main house often. The landscapers knew I was there and anyone watching from the street could have seen me puttering around. One day my neighbor told me she'd been robbed in the middle of the day and asked me if I'd seen anything, which I hadn't. But you bet your ass as soon as I moved out and my four roommates were left without me home all the time, they got robbed almost immediately. At 4:00 in the afternoon.
#45
Not a burglar, but grew up as the "rich" family in a rough area, we were burgled several times. I noticed that most burglars are not exactly intelligent. It is a high risk occupation that does not pay well, don't expect the best and brightest to do it. If you look carefully you'll see things being tampered with. Your gate will be opened and not shut, random extra trash for no reason, that's them casing the place checking to see if there's anything visible. They also like to shift things to see if they can create a blindspot to break in. Some things you can do to prevent it, basically the things I wish my parents did when I was growing up. Your best bet is just to slow them down. Make it faster for them to target someone else and they will. There are window coatings that resist breakage, if you live in a high risk area get these. Dual pane windows. Only slows them down but they're looking for quick in and out. Window locks. Sure they seem like stupid little whatevers, but they slow down entry. Any recessed doors should have security screens. Be friends with your neighbors. They are the most likely to be the burglars, you don't rob friends, and if there is an issue a friend is more likely to interrupt. Keep clear visibility to your windows from the street. Windows that are not visible from the street are where they will break in. Keep garbage cans away from windows. Keep expensive objects out of windows. If someone is a known thief don't invite them to move in. Yeah that's probably the biggest problem my family had. Really anything you can do to make the burglars more visible or to slow them down deters them.
#46
I only broke into a house once. It was my ex-girlfriend's place. She announced on Facebook she was out of the country for the weekend with her new lover, and I was still pissed she cheated on me a couple of weeks with that person earlier, so I decided to break some of her stuff. -- I had a duplicate key to her front door. And I know it sounds creepy looking back at it, but I had it made the day she mentioned she wanted the key back, so I got in there pretty easily.
Once inside, I poured water into every single electriconic device (laptop, tv, playstation, etc.) -- I also fed the cat, and gave the poor bastard a bowl of water, since she forgot to do so. Then I left.
Douglas Turner 4 years ago
The lesson here seems to be don't date an asshole... if only it were that easy
Samantha Lomb 4 years ago
Should have taken the cat. Anyone who forgets to feed and water an animal while out of the country shouldn't have an animal
Ellis Reed 4 years ago
For all we know the asshole who broke in made up that bit about the cat to make himself look better for, you know, being an asshole and breaking into someone's house
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
The lesson here is one my mother preached when I was, oh, 10: If you give someone your keys, then break up? Get new locks.
Rose the Cook 4 years ago
That is also a lesson for homebuyers and people moving into new rentals. You never know how many people the previous resident gave keys to so definitely change all the locks. In the case of rentals the agent will probably tell you that you can't but better safe than sorry, as long as you keep the originals and have them put back when you leave.
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Soro Doeth 4 years ago
I m sorry...was this an advice or a " i showed my ex girlfriend" story?
Lunar Bicycle 4 years ago
The lesson here is to not be such a sh**y cat owner that it requires a burglar to feed them.
Derek Neibarger 4 years ago
Responding to being dumped by breaking/entering and destruction of property? Classy. Hopefully she chose better with her next boyfriend.
#47
My mom's house had been broken into four times. Then she glued shards of glass on the wall surrounding her garden, and it stopped.
J. Normal 4 years ago
Better and with much less chance of liability - Rose bushes or any spikey hedge.
Miss Frankfurter 4 years ago
Friends of mine had bushes called Crown of Thorns at every window. Big thick branches on the bush and huge thorns. The only issue was the doors. Installed metal doors and metal door frames and a heavy metal plate surrounding the deadbolt locks. Double paned windows. They were in a great spot for break ins as their house was at the end of the street right beside a field. Never had a problem. For some reason they didn't have a garage, but the cars were never touched either. Very lucky for that though.
Load More Replies... #48
Best thing you can get is a couple IP network cameras and a computer to run Blue Iris (software). For a few hundred dollars, you can get video notification when someone comes to your door(s).
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Or buy some decent IP camera's who have the software on board to notify you. And a decent PTZ (pan tilt zoom) IP camera can be programmed to cover multiple points on your property in surveillance mode.
#49
BBC had a show called Beat the Burglar, where they had security experts and former burglars rob people houses and give advise on how to improve security. Keys being in reachable distance of letter box/pet door was one and lot of time they advised spikey hedges in areas where people might jump over fences.
#50
if you get home and your garage door opener doesn't work, there is a chance you are in the process of being robbed or were just robbed. burglars will pull that cable in the garage so the garage door doesn't work that way they have more time to get away if you come home while they are still there
#52
Also not a burglar but my parents house got broken into a few years ago because they had a big Douglas fir tree on the lawn which blocked the view of the front door from the street. The robbers knocked on the door around 10 on a weekday and when no one answered they busted the door jamb.
#53
If you live in the snowbelt, check for tracks and shoe prints.
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TheDivineMsM 4 years ago
Something i will NEVER understand- people feeling okay taking something that's not theirs to take. I could never steal someone else's private property and feel okay about it. I guess I value the concept of working for and earning things.
James Suttle 4 years ago
Not to mention the violation of someone's personal space. I struggle to find any sympathy for burglars
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Craig Silberman 4 years ago
After my first apartment was burglarized, the cops told me: "If they want to get in, they're going to get in. You want to make it look like your place is harder to get in than your neighbors, and that they'll have to make a lot of noise to get in your place. They don't want to be noticed, and try to avoid noise."
ZAPanda 4 years ago
Reading this advice is rather familiar. We have high crime here in SA. Mostly opportunistic, burglars etc., aren't that smart here. A common cause is they befriend a cleaner or gardener. We had an incident. But as mentioned above, we have very little of value (not materialistic), so he got very little. The area you're in and as they say above, layers of deterrent, are important. A bad area, you are going to get hit repeatedly, so the best you can do is either move, or sell anything of value, and leave curtains open so people can peep in and see there's nothing to take. Generally it's assumed rich area = rich people = stuff to take. However, poor area usually means poor security and hence easy target. Generally dogs, yes, but they can be poisoned. Best is to have external motion sensors, but guys know to crawl under them. Best solution is to solve poverty, right?
ZAPanda 4 years ago
Other relevant points: tall wall, or rather, fence, so neighbours can see burglary in progress; alarm; spikes; electric fence; razorwire. Serious. Park inside premises, not on the road. Park in view, not out of view. Don't leave anything in your car. Yes, they can detect laptops hidden in the boot (trunk) due to wifi / bluetooth. Remotes can be blocked on the same frequency, make sure your alarms armed when you press the remote. Don't drive with devices visible. Don't leave valuables unattended. Bars on all building windows. etc et.c. We are security experts here sadly. :(
Load More Replies... WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Covid-19 really hit the thieving trade very hard. In the Netherlands the number of burglaries went down with 57% compared to 2019. Sadly the numbers of crimes that the police solves are still very low; barely 30% of all reported crimes get solved.
Hannah Walters 4 years ago
Very sad to hear that your home is not safe anymore. But very valuable information. Thank you for sharing If your reading this I hope you have a great day and know. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV
J Kwon 4 years ago
Saying this for a friend... One trick of the trade is to be a young, conservatively dressed attractive female. If you're wearing leggings and take a jog around the neighborhood, you can stop at any house for help and be let in without a second glance. "I think I hurt my ankle... I have asthma and forgot my inhaler... There is a strange car that keeps driving around your block, and I think I am in danger... ....May I please use your phone to call my boyfriend, roommate, dad?" Also, if you're driving around a suburban neighborhood and want to park without attracting suspicion, park so that you're exactly between houses. Each house will assume you are visiting their neighbor.
TheDivineMsM 4 years ago
Something i will NEVER understand- people feeling okay taking something that's not theirs to take. I could never steal someone else's private property and feel okay about it. I guess I value the concept of working for and earning things.
James Suttle 4 years ago
Not to mention the violation of someone's personal space. I struggle to find any sympathy for burglars
Load More Replies... Craig Silberman 4 years ago
After my first apartment was burglarized, the cops told me: "If they want to get in, they're going to get in. You want to make it look like your place is harder to get in than your neighbors, and that they'll have to make a lot of noise to get in your place. They don't want to be noticed, and try to avoid noise."
ZAPanda 4 years ago
Reading this advice is rather familiar. We have high crime here in SA. Mostly opportunistic, burglars etc., aren't that smart here. A common cause is they befriend a cleaner or gardener. We had an incident. But as mentioned above, we have very little of value (not materialistic), so he got very little. The area you're in and as they say above, layers of deterrent, are important. A bad area, you are going to get hit repeatedly, so the best you can do is either move, or sell anything of value, and leave curtains open so people can peep in and see there's nothing to take. Generally it's assumed rich area = rich people = stuff to take. However, poor area usually means poor security and hence easy target. Generally dogs, yes, but they can be poisoned. Best is to have external motion sensors, but guys know to crawl under them. Best solution is to solve poverty, right?
ZAPanda 4 years ago
Other relevant points: tall wall, or rather, fence, so neighbours can see burglary in progress; alarm; spikes; electric fence; razorwire. Serious. Park inside premises, not on the road. Park in view, not out of view. Don't leave anything in your car. Yes, they can detect laptops hidden in the boot (trunk) due to wifi / bluetooth. Remotes can be blocked on the same frequency, make sure your alarms armed when you press the remote. Don't drive with devices visible. Don't leave valuables unattended. Bars on all building windows. etc et.c. We are security experts here sadly. :(
Load More Replies... WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Covid-19 really hit the thieving trade very hard. In the Netherlands the number of burglaries went down with 57% compared to 2019. Sadly the numbers of crimes that the police solves are still very low; barely 30% of all reported crimes get solved.
Hannah Walters 4 years ago
Very sad to hear that your home is not safe anymore. But very valuable information. Thank you for sharing If your reading this I hope you have a great day and know. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV
J Kwon 4 years ago
Saying this for a friend... One trick of the trade is to be a young, conservatively dressed attractive female. If you're wearing leggings and take a jog around the neighborhood, you can stop at any house for help and be let in without a second glance. "I think I hurt my ankle... I have asthma and forgot my inhaler... There is a strange car that keeps driving around your block, and I think I am in danger... ....May I please use your phone to call my boyfriend, roommate, dad?" Also, if you're driving around a suburban neighborhood and want to park without attracting suspicion, park so that you're exactly between houses. Each house will assume you are visiting their neighbor.
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