How do I know if someone has scoped my house?

Another sign that a burglar is casing homes in the area is that you notice strangers approaching houses. The stranger will walk part way up the driveway and stare at the house. Some will knock on the door and ask for something from the homeowner—a glass of water, a pen and paper, or to use the bathroom.
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How do you know if a house is 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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How do you know if your house is being cased?

How to tell if someone is casing your home
  1. Strange Cars Parked in Your Neighborhood. ...
  2. Strangers Walking Down Your Street. ...
  3. People Pretending to Conduct a Survey. ...
  4. People Pretending to Sell You Something. ...
  5. Strangers With an Emergency or in Need of Help. ...
  6. Strangers Taking Pictures of Your Home. ...
  7. Random Flyers Showing Up on Your Door.
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How do criminals mark your house?

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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Do burglars scope out?

"Burglars often take their time scoping out their potential victims so that they can carry out a burglary without getting caught. This means they may well know your schedule and when the house is left empty," says Chris Perry, director of security company NVC Security.
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How to Tell if Someone's Been in Your House While You're Away, According to a Former CIA Officer



What signs do burglars leave?

Obviously, you'll secure your windows and doors on your property and prime your home's alarm or CCTV security system. But, there are other obvious signs that there's no one in the house: All the lights turned off for days on end. Letters and 'missed delivery' notes sticking out of the letterbox.
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How do burglars target a house?

Most burglars enter houses through those entry points as well as the front door, the back door, or the garage. Burglars want their jobs to be as easy as possible, so if they know you leave for work at 8 a.m. every day and don't return until 6 p.m., they're most likely to strike when you're gone.
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What signs do Robbers use?

What are the most common signs and symbols in burglar codes?
  • Circle: an easy house to target; maybe as it has no home security system set up.
  • Barred circle: a house to avoid burgling; maybe the home has effective alarms or CCTV cameras, or a family dog.
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What robbers look for in a house?

What Items Do Burglars Look for in a Home?
  • Jewelry and Cash: These are two straightforward items burglars aim for. They're also the leading items that homeowners report stolen.
  • Medication: In recent years, medication has been a popular goal for robbers. ...
  • Electronics: Electronics are another front runner in burgled goods.
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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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Do burglars mark houses with chalk?

It added: "Chalk is the main material burglars use as it is easily removed and not as noticeable as materials such as spray paint markings outside the house. "As well as burglar chalk signs, burglars mark houses with almost anything they can; it may be a small blob of paint or a piece of string tied around a lamppost!
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How can I protect my home from invasion?

How to Help Protect Your Home From Invasion: Tips for Stopping...
  1. Take a Walk Around Your Property and Think Like a Burglar. ...
  2. Keep Shrubbery Neatly Trimmed to Help Cut Down on Intruder Hiding Spots. ...
  3. Use lights to deter burglars. ...
  4. Use Technology to Keep an Eye on Things at Home.
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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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Why would someone be taking pictures of my house?

Before a lender agrees to a modification of your mortgage terms, it must evaluate the house and neighborhood. The photographs reveal to the lender the condition of your house, your street and neighborhood.
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Where do robbers look first?

Store a few small items in a wall or mantel clock, as long as the clock itself isn't worth stealing! Tape them to the back or put them in any open cavities. Steer clear of these hiding places, because that's where burglars always look first!
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How do you scare away robbers?

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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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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Do cameras scare burglars?

Security cameras will generally deter and reduce burglary. If you install a security camera, your home is 300 % safer from break-ins than a home without a camera. Criminals don't want to be watched or recorded-this is one of the major reasons they are so effective.
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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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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 target the same house twice?

Contrary to popular belief, it is not uncommon for burglars to target the same place twice. They believe that if they were able to escape successfully the first time, they would be able to do it again.
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Why do burglars poop in houses?

The truth is that pooping at the scene of the crime does not always seem like a personal statement or message, but perhaps a sign of heightened excitement.
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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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How do most burglars break in?

Front door: 34% of burglars twist the doorknob and walk right in. First-floor windows: 23% use a first-floor open window to break into your home. Back door: 22% come in through the back door. Garage doors: 9% gain entrance through the garage.
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Why do burglaries happen during the 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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