To help prevent home burglaries, these tips are offered by police officers on how to spot and deter thieves.
Here’s what your neighborhood burglar won’t tell you:
1. Of course I look familiar—I was here just last week cleaning your carpets!
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer on your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.
5. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.
6. A good security company alarms the window over the sink, as well as second floor windows.
7. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella and you forget to lock your door. Understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.
8. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters.
9. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table and the medicine cabinet.
10. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.
11. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.
12. A loud television or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. Leave it on.
13. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
14. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
15. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll go back to what he was doing. Call the police when you think you heard a window break!
16. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
17. I love peeking into windows, looking for signs that you’re home and for flat screen TV’s or gaming systems. I call this “window shopping for later,” when I pick my targets.
18. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.
19. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.
20. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in!
Find more information on Home Burglar Alarm Systems.
