Burglars

“In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?”- Saint Augustine

Reader’s Digest has been discovering the tricks that burglars use:

1. They frequently rob during the day while normally dressed as a census/survey taker, a lawn guy, etc. Or a crook may use a day job like an appliance deliveryman, carpet cleaner or painter to check out the houses they visit.
2. They may knock at the door, and if no one answers AND the door is unlocked, just let themselves in. Burglars may also check side doors and the garage door (when the garage connects to the house).
3. They also love open windows.
4. They are not afraid to break a window to get in. If your typical neighbor hears an odd sound, followed by just silence, he’ll go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.
5. The antidote to #4 is loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
6. Alarm systems won’t deter if they are not turned on.
7. Windows with open blinds or curtains advertise what you have worth stealing.
8. There are many ways to let a burglar know you’re away from home
   -You post about your upcoming vacation on your blog or facebook
   -Your mailbox is full
   -Newspapers have not been picked up
   -There are no footprints in day-old snow, or your drive is not plowed.
   -The house is dark between sunset and bedtime.
   -A flyer left in your front door

Bottom Line

Professional burglars are savvy. They’ll look at your landscaping, your cars, views through the window, and so on to determine if you have quality goods worth stealing. They’ll carry out small safes and know all the traditional hiding places like sock drawers, dresser drawers, bedside tables, matresses, and the medicine cabinets.

A good deterrent is putting lights, a TV, or fake tv on a timer so the house does not look empty at night.