No one wants to be the victim of burglary, theft or robbery. It’s important to know how these crimes differ from one another, so you can be prepared to defend against each of these threats. Theft is stealing, robbery is using violence to steal, and burglary is when someone enters your home to commit a crime. All of these threats are very real and very scary. This article outlines the differences between burglary, robbery and theft and provides a few tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of these crimes.

Burglary

Burglaries involve someone entering your home, business or other structure without permission and with the intention of committing a crime. That crime is most often to steal your property, but a burglar could also intend to commit violent crimes against your or your family. Your first line of defense against burglary is a security system. An effective security system should include contact transmitters on doors and windows, glass-break detection, and motion detection sensors. It is important to teach your entire family to use your alarm system every time they leave the home and use the system when your family is asleep at night. A worst case scenario would be for a burglary to occur while a member of the family is home. Another tip is always make sure your home looks occupied, which can be accomplished with light timers, motion sensor lighting and never letting mail or deliveries pile up on your front stoop.

Theft

Theft is the most common of these three crimes. A theft occurs any time tangible property is taken from a person. Shoplifting, pickpocketing and smash and grab break-ins are all forms of theft, but scamming someone out of their property is also a form of theft. The best way to prevent theft is to not make yourself an easy target. Teach your children not to leave valuable toys like bicycles in the front yard. Lock up valuable items that are easy to take like ladders or lawn mowers. Be sure not to flaunt valuable or high ticket items. If you can see a huge flat screen television from the street, so can a thief. Businesses with valuable merchandise should set up motion sensor lighting and video cameras, while being sure to lock down any items that are kept outside.

Robbery

The scariest of these three crimes is robbery. A robbery occurs when a criminal uses violence or intimidation to steal your property. Getting held up at gun point and being mugged are examples of robberies. The best way for people to avoid becoming a victim of robbery is to always stay aware of your surroundings. Robbers generally try to take victims by surprise, so they won’t be prepared to defend themselves. Stay with a group while walking at night, never stare down at a cellphone when you’re out and about and always make trips to and from the car or house as quick as possible. Fumbling through a purse to find your keys in a parking lot gives a criminal the perfect opportunity to strike, so have your keys ready before you even start walking towards your car. For businesses, video cameras are a great deterrent, but you may want to consider a bullet proof glass barrier for your employees if your business is located in an especially high crime area.

Have an alarm system installed in your home or business, and actually use that alarm. Simply having an alarm system isn’t enough; it needs to be used every time to be effective. The worst case scenario is for a burglar to enter your home while your family is there, so set your alarm every night before going to sleep. Butler Durrell is the best alarm company in St. Louis, because we care about the safety of your family and our city as much as you do. Follow us on Facebook for more safety tips and security advice.