How do burglars choose houses?

They often pick a house by surveilling the neighborhood and finding the one with the most predictable patterns of when people come and go. They also look for properties in more rural or isolated parts of the neighborhood, and houses that are well maintained or have fancy cars in the driveway.
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How do burglars select houses?

Hedges, trees, fences, and other objects that hide major points of entry are promising features for burglars, as it makes them harder to be seen while they are checking the house or breaking in. Doors with windows in them provide a way to look into the home to check for people or valuables before breaking in.
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What houses do burglars avoid?

7 & 8) Two Story Homes & Apartments on High Floors

They usually stick to jewelry and cash, items that they can easily carry. For this reason, burglars usually avoid two story homes, since these items will more than likely be upstairs in the master bedroom and burglars like to minimize the time they stay in a home.
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What do burglars fear most?

With that in mind, let's take a look at the top ten burglar deterrents to use in 2021:
  • Smart Video Doorbell Cameras. ...
  • Dogs. ...
  • Security Gates. ...
  • Keeping Open Spaces Around Your Home. ...
  • An Alarm System. ...
  • Get Friendly With Your Neighbors. ...
  • Smart Locks. ...
  • Secure Your Garage.
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What time do most burglaries occur?

The most common times for break-ins occur between 10 am and 3 pm. Rather than being guarded by night, most burglars choose the daytime to attempt a break-in, targeting homes when they believe no one will be present.
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Burglar explains how he breaks into homes



Why do burglars break in at night?

You're less likely to be home during the day. Nighttime, it's likely that all family members will be home and tucked in bed. The opposite is true during the day. This means that burglars could take their time scouring the house without interruption (unless you have a security system).
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How do you scare burglars away?

Get More Tips
  1. Don't advertise big buys. An empty computer or television carton left on the curb is a flag to crooks. ...
  2. Ask for a reference. Before hiring anyone, get personal recommendations. ...
  3. Keep your mail out of reach. ...
  4. Stay well-trimmed. ...
  5. Get a virtual pet. ...
  6. Call the police. ...
  7. Know your neighbors.
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How can you tell if a house is being targeted?

Signs Someone Is Casing Your House & Your House Is Being Targeted by Burglars
  • Unfamiliar Vehicles: New Cars or Vehicles on the Street or Neighborhood. ...
  • Strangers Walk Around the Street or Neighborhood. ...
  • Door-to-door Scams. ...
  • Mark the House with Flyers or Stickers. ...
  • Toilet Excuse. ...
  • Strangers Request for Help with Different Excuses.
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Does leaving a light on at night deter burglars?

Do security lights deter burglars? Yes, they can. Light makes it hard for them to conceal their identity, so they are more likely to find a darker home.
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What do burglars burn to make you sleep?

In the previous years it was believed that burning a compact disc (CD) was another trick used by criminals to make people fall asleep, but this has never been confirmed.
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How do criminals mark houses?

Not only is having a bunch of flyers or stickers stuck in your door a nuisance, it can also serve as a way for burglars to mark your home. Many burglars will stick flyers or stickers on homes that they think are unoccupied to serve as an indicator for their accomplices that the home is unguarded.
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Why do burglars avoid corner homes?

Any house that's secluded may also be a target. Corner homes are iffy. They allow thieves to scope the area (including your habits) easily by simply driving by and naturally slowing or stopping for a turn. Depending on your neighborhood's layout, they may also be less visible to neighbors and police.
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Do burglars return to the same house?

It is scary enough to experience one home intrusion. Multiple break-ins are even more frightening. Unfortunately, after one “successful” burglary, intruders are likely to come back and target the same home again.
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Do burglars target empty houses?

Burglars are more likely to target homes that are “routinely vacant during the day.” A serious thief may watch your home for a few days to confirm that you are gone for work before breaking in.
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What do you do if your house is being targeted?

The best way to protect your house from burglars is by being informed and vigilant. You must keep an eye on certain signs that indicate your house being cased for a potential crime. If you notice any such unusual activity around your premises, inform the authorities right away.
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Do burglars avoid homes with alarms?

Both experts and actual burglars say alarm systems deter break-ins, mainly because most burglars are amateurs. In a University of North Carolina at Charlotte study that surveyed 422 convicted burglars, 83% of burglars admitted they check homes for alarms before breaking in.
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What do pink porch lights mean?

Pink porch lights are generally associated with Breast Cancer. You will typically see more of them in October which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As part of the Let Your Light Shine! campaign, people can purchase pink light bulbs with the proceeds being donated to the foundation.
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Do dogs deter burglars?

Do dogs really act as a burglar deterrent? The short answer is yes, they do! Your pup has an acute set of senses and is not bothered by using his loving, loud voice to notify you when he isn't a fan of someone.
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Is it safer to leave porch light on or off?

Outdoor security lighting is effective if there are people — neighbors, pedestrians or police — to actually see suspicious activity. "If you're in a rural area, you're basically in a secluded area — you're better off turning off because the lights would help an intruder actually see," Felson says.
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How long does it take for a burglar to break in?

Most “burglars” just want to break into your home, find something of value and get out as quickly as they can. In fact, the timeframe within which a burglary is committed is between 90 seconds and 12 minutes, according to the FBI! But the typical commission time is between 8 and 10 minutes.
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Where do thieves look first?

Burglars said families should avoid hiding valuables in living room drawers and dressers, pots and pans and locked safes that are not secured to the floor or wall - as these are the places thieves search first.
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What to do if you think someone is in your house at night?

  1. Quickly verify their presence. Time is of the essence, so be quick about checking. ...
  2. Stay calm. ...
  3. Determine if you can escape. ...
  4. Stay put if you can't escape. ...
  5. Call the police. ...
  6. Keep quiet and follow instructions. ...
  7. Take notes immediately afterward.
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Do ring doorbells deter burglars?

While about a quarter of the law enforcement agencies NBC spoke to said they believed the cameras, discreetly fitted inside internet-connected doorbells, deterred crime, none had data to link the overall drop in property crimes to their deal with Ring.
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Do burglars break windows?

As you can see, burglars do break windows. While it is true that they usually only do it when the conditions are appropriate, in most cases, it takes only a few seconds to break through a standard windowpane. Fortunately, you can do many things to discourage burglars and prevent your windows from smashing.
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Are corner houses more likely to be burgled?

Some research has also found corner homes are more vulnerable to burglaries because they are more accessible, have fewer neighbors, and can be inconspicuously scoped out as prospective targets from corner traffic lights or stop signs.
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