Burglary

Criminals choose their particular crimes for a variety of reasons e.g. a mugger needs quick cash and isn’t afraid of confrontation, the pickpocket also needs quick cash but wants to avoid any confrontation, shoplifters usually steal to order and have the promise of cash and believe there is less of a chance of getting caught or being confronted that pick pocketing or mugging etc. Mugging, pick-pocketing and shop lifting are generally low-level crimes committed by people looking to make quick but relatively small sums of money, that probably goes towards supporting a drug habit. Burglars are regarded somewhat higher on the criminal pecking order, and will look to gain more financially than the previously listed predators, however they will have to know somebody who can fence the goods for them, be prepared to haggle over the price they receive for their stolen goods and possibly wait for a time after the burglary to receive cash for their products – this might mean that they need to be able to store them for a period of time e.g. till they can set up the meeting with their fence and/or ensure they get the right price for the items that have been stolen. This tells you something about the character of the average burglar e.g. they are organized, tapped into the criminal network, are generally non-confrontational, and are able to delay gratification (unlike a mugger, committing street robberies to support a drug habit, who needs money immediately).

Most burglars select their targets on a more casual basis than other predators, in that rather than actively looking to select homes, they tend to notice things that draw their attention, as they go about their day-to-day business. A burglar will be very well aware, of your movements, even when you are not. They will notice things such as the times of day, when your driveway is free of any cars – a good indication that nobody is home; occupancy being the most common deterrent for burglars, with dogs coming in as a close second – even if you don’t have a dog, putting a water bowl out on your front porch may act as an adequate deterrent. Most burglaries happen during the day, when the homeowners are out at work, creating the appearance of occupancy is a good way to get a burglar to move on to the next property on their list (most burglars will line up 3 or 4 different houses, and move on from their first choice if the conditions don’t look favorable). Simple things which give an appearance of occupancy can be TV’s and radios playing in different rooms of the house – if you come home late (a fact known by the absence of a car on your driveway), using timers to switch on lights can give the illusion of somebody being home.

Every window and door is a potential entry point for a criminal, and if those entry points are obscured by hedging and or fencing, so that they are not in anybody’s potential sight lines then a burglar will be able to gain access through them unseen – a car on your driveway, may also prevent neighbors and passers-by from observing somebody trying to break into your home. If you can try and get all the access points to your home visible to others then you will go a long way to avoiding being targeted. Be aware that access points that don’t lead directly into your house, such as basement and garage doors, are also access points – if somebody can get into your basement then they will be unobserved as they attempt to get into your actual house (this might be made easier if you don’t look the doors adjoining your basement and/or garage etc.)

Do not think that burglars are simply attracted to well-kept and well maintained properties, they will also target properties that look run down, and are shabby, with peeling paintwork, and overgrown and cluttered yards – one reason for this is that they may assume that somebody who has let their house get into such a state has little sense of self-worth and respect, and will therefore be an easier person to deal with if they disturb them as they go about their business.

Another thing to be aware of, is that if you are burgled you may likely be burgled again, several weeks later. A burglar will know that you will replace the goods they stole – with similar or better – and will know roughly how long the insurance company will take to pay out. Many people will not improve their security in the interim and find themselves burgled again. If your house has been targeted once, assume it will be again, and do something to improve its security weaknesses. Your house doesn’t have to be a fortress it just needs to be a harder target than next door.