Burglars are looking for easy targets with a valuable pay off. If you can avoid getting on a burglar’s radar in those two areas, there’s a good chance you’ll avoid ever becoming a target in the first place. This article discusses a few steps you can take to avoid getting on a burglars radar and to make your home a more challenging target if it ever peaks a burglar’s interest.
Consider the Burglar’s Point of View
We aren’t talking about empathy. Try to think about what a burglar might be looking for in a target. These criminal walk the streets or drive around neighborhoods just looking for targets.
Consider what the containers you throw out say about you and the nice gifts that are just inside your home – to potential burglars.
Walk outside and take a long hard look at your home. Go on, right now, we’ll wait….Did you see a big screen TV through the front living room window? Maybe the glint of silver serving trays from the dining room? These are the things burglars see that put your home on their radar. Many burglars drive around neighborhoods looking for targets. It’s important not to advertise valuables that might make you a target.
Be Careful About What You Throw Away
New televisions, gaming systems, electronic devices, guns, expensive shoes/boots and appliances all speak to potential burglars as they scope out the best homes in a neighborhood to target for a break-in. Will your home appeal to them?
Your trash is quick way to get on a burglar’s radar. That huge Sony box at the end of your driveway or on the curb is like an invitation that says “we’ve got nice stuff inside.” Cardboard boxes on the curb for trash or recycling pick up are an easy way for potential burglars to see what valuables can be found inside your home. High dollar items are very attractive. Break down cardboard boxes, flatten them, and turn the colorful product label inward, and stash them inside the trash or recycling container. Put trash out the morning of pick up.
Think Before Posting on Social Media
When you get something you love, it is hard not to show all your friends on Facebook, Instagram or tell them on Twitter. Police recommend keeping photos and statements about what you receive off social media sites, because social media has become less private and you probably shouldn’t totally trust each of your 300+ Facebook friends.
Did you know pictures taken with a cell phone get imprinted with GPS coordinates? We’ve all seen those pictures on Facebook, “thanks for the new golf clubs, honey!” Most of us think nothing of it, but if a burglar that knows what they’re doing comes across that picture, it could be another story. A burglar can use the imprinted GPS coordinates to find that home and steal whatever is inside.
Sadly, many burglaries are committed by an acquaintance, friend or family member, or a friend of a friend. Maybe someone on hard times that no one realizes is struggling. Although their circumstances are certainly unfortunate, it’s up to you to make your home a tough target. Burglaries happen to residents of every economic level – we all have something that someone else would find valuable.
St Louis Home Security Systems
Homes with security systems and video surveillance are less likely to be burglarized because crooks don’t want to take the risk of being caught. Butler Durrell Security Systems make an even greater challenge, because we have a no-delay alarm system that means as soon as an intruder is detected, the alarm sounds.
Unlike some large national security companies, our security systems do not wait several minutes to make sure it isn’t a false alarm – once an intrusion is detected, the alarm sounds and we call you directly. If you verify that the alarm was triggered by accident, that ends the event. However if you do not answer or indicate there is a potential problem, police are called to your home to apprehend intruders.
Contact Butler Durrell to schedule an estimate today and make your home a more challenge target for burglars!
