In the information age in which we live in today, we have at our fingertips instant information about every and any topic our minds desire to explore. However, when it comes to understanding or gaining information about how the mind of a burglar works, I’m sorry to say that we often either come up with our own conclusions based on what we consider to be common sense or we see a movie where a burglar uses a credit card or a paperclip to break into a door and we assume it is that easy. The truth is that if we would just use a little common sense, re think and change some of the ways we do things, educate ourselves and families and consider home security enhancements, we can and will make our homes safer.
According to FBI statistics and research gathered by the FBI we can now have a better idea of what area in our home is more likely to be an entry point for an intruder.
The following statistics / percentages show the areas of entry
34% front door 23% first floor window 22% back door 9% garage 4% basement 4% unlocked entrance 2% second floor 2% storage area.
Educating ourselves on statistics relating to certain aspects of the behavior patterns relating to burglars and break in attempts helps us to have an advantage in determining if we are or aren’t a possible target for a break-in.
The following is a list of facts about burglars/ burglaries
Most homes are not robbed by professional thieves. Most robberies are committed by male teenage burglars.
The average burglar lives only a mile or two from the homes which he chooses to burglarize.
In the U.S. a burglary occurs once every 14.6 seconds.
Most burglaries occur during the day when home owners are at work.
The average burglar does not spend more than 8 to 12 minutes in any home during a burglary.
34% of the time intruders walk right in through the front door. The next most popular points of entry include/ first floor windows, back doors, garage
More than 65% of burglaries occur in residential neighborhoods.
Not having an ADT monitored home security system triples your chances of being a burglary victim.
The first place an intruder will go to after entering a home is the master bedroom.
Ladders and tools should not be left outside the house, a burglar can use these to break in.
Burglars will almost always prefer to attempt a break in when a residence is unoccupied. Take care to make sure that your home looks lived in, even if it means installing timers which turn on light as well as possibly a television set or radio at regular intervals. Make sure newspapers are picked up by a neighbor and always try and leave a car in the driveway if possible. Install motion sensor flood lights on the exterior of your home to deter anyone from approaching the residence. Never ever leave jewelry or cash at home where it is easily accessible.
Do everything you can to make it more appealing for a burglar to pass your house by without even attempting to break in.
