What do house thieves look for?

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 robbers get into houses?

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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What do home burglars look for?

Among the most surprising things that burglars steal are food and other everyday items. Whether they're hungry or not, that block of cheese in your fridge could disappear, along with energy drinks, packaged snack foods, cigarettes and even laundry detergent. High-end perfumes, like Chanel No.
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Where do thieves look in your house?

Burglars Know Where to Find the Goods

One of the first things most people don't think about is a burglar typically is looking for a suitcase, bag, or pillow case to use for carrying out all of the stolen goods. Then, they open drawers and look on counters for a jewelry box or drawer full of jewelry.
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What do burglars want to steal?

“The most popular items that burglars are looking to steal are typically cash, jewelry, and electronics.
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What to Do When You See a Suspicious Stranger



What is the most commonly stolen item?

The most stolen items were:
  • Designer clothes – 34% Any shops selling designer fashion clothes face a constant threat of organized retail crime. ...
  • Deodorant – 15% Toiletries are on the list again, with stores selling such goods possibly being targeted for multiple items at a time. ...
  • Pain relievers – 13% ...
  • Cell phones – 8%
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Which 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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How do you trick a burglar?

Ask friends, family, or neighbors to just be present on your property — use your patio, play in your yard, or bring in the mail. Invite a neighbor to keep a car parked in your driveway. During the holidays, they may be happy if they need overflow for visitors. Install a fake security camera for as low as $8.
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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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What time of night 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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How do you tell if your house is being cased?

Common Signs Your House Is Being Cased
  1. Sign #1: Parked but Occupied Vehicles.
  2. Sign #2: A Knock on the Door.
  3. Sign #3: Binoculars and Cameras.
  4. Sign #4: Same Faces, Different Day.
  5. Sign #5: Strangers in Your Yard.
  6. Step #1: Cameras.
  7. Step #2: A Home Security System.
  8. Step #3: Consider a Dog.
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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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How can you tell if your house has been watched?

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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What houses are more likely to be robbed?

The 10 Most Common Homes Burglars Target
  • Houses near common offenders. ...
  • Low-traffic areas. ...
  • Previously burglarized homes or homes near one. ...
  • Places to hide. ...
  • Vacant homes. ...
  • Poor security features. ...
  • Easy accessibility. ...
  • Houses with curb appeal.
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How can you tell if someone is trying to break in?

Signs of brute force
  1. Paint circles from lock fixture movement (like it was loosened and retightened out of place)
  2. Bent deadbolts or latches.
  3. Warped doors/doorframes.
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Do burglars hurt you?

Fortunately, unlike movies, most burglars are looking to steal your belongings, not harm you. It's still pretty terrifying, though, to wake up in the middle of the night and realize someone else is in your house—and one can't exactly read a burglar's mind or know his or her intentions.
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Do robbers come back 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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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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Do cameras attract thieves?

Security cameras don't attract burglars to your property; but at the same time, they probably won't keep burglars away from your property. More than likely, your security camera will go unnoticed by burglars. Here's the bottom line: security cameras, for the most part, aren't designed to deter crime.
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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 I stop breaking in at night?

Here are their tips on preventing home burglaries.
  1. Leave a Radio or TV On. ...
  2. Have a Car in the Driveway. ...
  3. Eliminate Hiding Spots. ...
  4. Secure Your Front Door. ...
  5. Monitor Your Front Door. ...
  6. Get a Surveillance Camera. ...
  7. Get a Guard Dog. ...
  8. Stay Alert During the Day.
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What are burglars most afraid of?

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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How do burglars choose their targets?

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 is the chance of your house getting robbed?

What are the odds of your house being burgled? The FBI crime report expects one in every 36 homes in the US to experience a burglary.
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