Burglars often “mark” their target. Homeowners might see unusual markings, such as a streak of spray paint on the wall, a glob of ordinary paint on the fence, or a rope tied around a fence post or lamppost.
Flyers or stickers on your mailbox, door, or windows can also be a sign that your house is marked. Criminals often use flyers or stickers to indicate that the house is vulnerable and worth targeting. If you notice suspicious vehicles or individuals in your neighborhood, it could be a sign that your house is marked.
Burglars work hard to identify easy targets. You could say it's their full time job to find houses worth breaking into. Many burglars will stake out a home for days to identify patterns in how people come and go. And they are especially interested in homes without dogs, alarm systems, and security cameras.
Homes in high-visibility places, like on corner lots, are far less likely to be broken into. There are simply too many potential ways to be seen. But townhomes, houses in the middle of the block, or houses in a cul-de-sac are much better targets.
Your attic is not likely to be visited by a burglar because they are usually hard to find and access. So, it is always a good idea to store valuables in attic storage containers.
The main bedroom is known as the most common place for valuables to be kept, which is why it's often the first port of call for the burglar on the lookout for cash.
According to an analysis by Vivint Smart Home, 50.3% of burglaries occur at night between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. while the other half (49.7%) happen in daylight hours.
Burglar deterrent audio or sound would scare away those thieves. Burglars hate attention. That's the main reason why burglar alarms and sirens are effective on deterring thieves. Statistics show that 46% of burglars would tend to avoid homes with alarm systems or sirens.
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.
The original thief may return if he wasn't caught the first time. Moreover, your house which has been robbed may also attract other intruders, due to its vulnerability, according to the home invasion statistics. “Do burglars come back after first attempt fail?” Yep!
Burglary Prevention Basics
Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors. Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day. Keep your garage door closed and locked.
The average burglar takes less than a minute to break into your home and overall 8 to 12 minutes to get out again. In the first minute, the burglar lurks outside your property, looking for signs that there is no one there and assessing whether your house is a good target.
Most burglaries happen in the summertime between the summer months of June and August. Frequent home invasions happen between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm when the home owners are commonly away from the home. However, 27.6% of all home burglaries, someone is home during a burglary.
According to FBI, 65% of home burglaries happen between 6 am to 6 pm while you are at work or at school. The most common hours for a burglary are between 10 am – 3 pm. Throughout a year, July and August are the months with the most home break-ins and burglaries, while February is the nadir.
According to cooperative insurer's research theft is most likely to occur on a Friday. Around 40% of break ins occur during the day whilst 60% take place during the evening or at night. It's really important to use your home security, day and night.
It's a fairly common home security tip that is passed around, but you may be wondering if leaving the outside lights on deters burglars. The truth is that it helps a small portion of potential burglaries, but overall, it's not an effective method to rely on.
One interesting tip is that burglars generally don't go into children's rooms when hunting for valuables to steal. There are two main reason: first, kids generally don't have things worth stealing.
Homes on the outskirts of neighborhoods are more vulnerable, because fewer neighbors will be able to see if a crime is being committed. This includes dead-end streets, cul-de-sacs and locations with few outlets. Any house that's secluded may also be a target. Corner homes are iffy.
A burglar in your neighborhood might: Dress in khakis and a polo shirt and carry a clipboard like he's taking a survey. Wear coveralls and carry a rake so it appears he's part of a local lawn service. Dress in general work clothes and carry fliers that offer gutter cleaning services.
The most obvious way of catching a burglar is by providing the police with video footage of the break-in.