When burglars plan to break into a building for theft, they usually first assess the environment and security situation of the target to increase their chances of success. Therefore, by being mindful of the signs of burglars scouting in advance, we should be able to prevent our homes from being targeted.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as reported on its website with data from 2019, indicates that there were approximately 1,117,696 reported cases of burglary in the United States that year, averaging 3,062 cases per day.
Despite installing security devices at home, skilled burglars may still take advantage of vulnerabilities, with the average burglary lasting only 8 to 10 minutes. By the time the authorities respond, the burglar may have already fled.
To further prevent burglary at home, in addition to taking security measures, one should also pay attention to signs of burglars scouting in advance.
A study conducted by research personnel from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and other universities revealed that out of the interviewed burglars, 83% said they would at least check the home security system before committing theft, and 12% said they would plan the entire operation in advance.
What are the signs burglars look for in advance? Here are four of them as outlined by the website “Lifehacker”:
– Burglars need to confirm basic facts when scouting a house, such as your schedule (to know when no one is home) and the best opportunities for entering the house.
– An effective way to scout is by parking a car nearby and observing your house at different times of the day. If you notice an unfamiliar car suddenly parked in the same location near your home, carefully check for obvious surveillance signs.
– Most parked cars are empty for hours. If you find someone inside a car, observe how many people are there, if it’s always the same person, and if they use cameras or telescopes for observation.
– It’s not uncommon for burglars to directly knock on your door to scout. There are two main reasons for this: to confirm your schedule and to gain access to the house under false pretenses to observe the layout, security measures, and valuable items in your home.
Therefore, if you encounter a stranger attempting to enter your door or claiming they mistakenly knocked on your door, you should be vigilant.
If burglars believe your home looks like a good target, they may try various methods to confirm their suspicions or prepare to invade your home:
– Throwing stones at windows: If a stone breaks a window, it should attract attention. If no one investigates immediately, it signals that no one is home.
– Tampering with light bulbs: Burglars may check if the lights outside your house are working properly, especially motion-sensing lights. Sometimes they may unscrew bulbs to prevent them from illuminating properly, aiding their future invasion.
– Blocking camera lenses: They may cover or damage your home’s camera lenses so they won’t be captured during the burglary.
– Draining car gasoline: They may siphon gas from your car, and when you leave, you might not realize you’re low on fuel, delaying your return home and giving them more time to commit the crime.
– Kidnapping dogs: If you have pet dogs, they may release them or take them away to avoid barking during the burglary.
Burglars sometimes leave subtle marks around your home. For example, leaving colored fake flyers on your porch, placing tape on your door, or flipping your doormat.
This is not to communicate with other burglars but to see if anyone notices. If the flyers are still there the next day, the tape is intact, or the doormat is still flipped, it means no one has entered the house, making it safe for them to break in.
In addition to noting these signs, you can use simple methods to deter burglars, making your home appear less vulnerable.
Previously reported by Dajiyuan, a former female thief in the UK shared her experience testing the reliability of anti-theft systems for people. She said that making your home appear occupied is a simple way to deter burglars. You can turn on a table lamp when you’re out or place fake keys under the doormat, wasting the burglar’s time trying to unlock the door.
She also suggested scattering gravel around the house or installing automatic lighting systems to give the impression that breaking in isn’t easy because burglars don’t want to be seen or heard.