Throughout our lives we are taught, 'don't leave your phone lying around in plain sight', 'make sure you lock the car', 'shut the windows before you go out', and for good reason. Vulnerable homes, easy opportunities and a quick profit are what drive burglars to commit their crimes.
If you fail to put security precautions in place, you might just fall victim to your local robbers. Once you have a good idea of what burglars look for, you can put the correct deterrents and security features in place to keep them well away from your belongings.
What are burglars looking for?
As we've mentioned before, burglars are looking for valuable items that they can access easily to make a quick profit. This makes some items more appealing than others. Here are some of the top items that burglars look for:
- Money
- Jewellery
- Phones, TV's, laptops etc.
- Prescription drugs
Bear in mind that burglars will tend to look for small, light and valuable items before turning their attention to larger, potentially riskier items. If they're travelling on foot, burglars will look for things that can fit into their backpack or into their pockets.
Wherever possible, you should always remove valuables from your car or at least put them out of sight if you need to leave them overnight. When storing your valuables in the home, we recommend purchasing a safe or putting things in a secure safety deposit box. Your sock drawer, jewellery box and bedside cabinets are among the first places burglars will look when they arrive in your home!
Common tactics burglars use when choosing a target:
Vacant = vulnerable
Consider this, a burglar is roaming the streets outside your home and peering in the windows to assess which home has the most to offer with the smallest risk. Are they more likely to break into the home with the family wandering around and the lights clearly on, or the home that looks like it's been abandoned for the weekend... It's a no-brainer. Leaving a light turned on and ensuring your house isn't left vacant for long periods of time is a great way to deter burglars.
If you do need to leave your house unattended for longer than a few days, why not consider adding a home security system? This could include a remotely controlled and monitored CCTV cameras, intruder alarms, door entry systems and more.
Doggy deterrents
Although we're sure you don't need another excuse to add a furry friend to your home, having a dog in the house can dramatically reduce the likelihood of a break-in. Burglars tactically choose homes without a sharp-toothed and noisy intruder alarm, and it's understandable why. Dogs are protective of their owners and their homes and will no doubt put up a good fight if they feel threatened.
Not allowed a dog in your property? Why not play the burglar at their own game and employ some cunning tactics of your own. Hang a 'Beware of the Dog' sign on your gate or leave a dog bowl and some toys outside to throw burglars off the scent.
Spotting easy entry points
Another tactic that burglars employ to choose when targeting a home is looking for easy entry points. A window left open or a door that's slightly ajar is just asking for trouble, be extra vigilant when you leave the house. Note that even a locked door can be an easy entry point if you leave a key in an obvious and easily accessible place eg... under the mat (the first place any burglar would look).
Read More: Where Do Burglars Enter Your Home?
If you want to keep your belongings safe and out of the hands of burglars, don't hesitate to get in touch. Now you know what burglars are looking for, you can enquire about our range of security systems for your home! Call us on 029 20 753 251 now.
