How To Stop The Burglars From Striking Twice

Being a victim of burglary can be a very traumatic experience. Not only do householders lose items that are of value both financially and sentimentally, but it also leaves the majority of people feeling incredibly vulnerable and violated.

Unfortunately, statistics show if you have fallen victim to burglary once, it is more likely that you will be targeted again.

 

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Figures recorded between January 2008 and December 2013 and recently released following a Freedom of Information request to all 43 forces in England and Wales, have shown that over 10% of burglaries in Essex during that time period were on houses that had been targeted previously. These are shocking figures, but it does make sense.

Thieves like to make things easy, so it makes sense for them to target somewhere they know. Once they are familiar with the layout of a home or the routine of the residents, they can carry out multiple burglaries without having to scope out the area again should the owner not change their security or routine.

While these statistics seem scary, there are things that you can do to prevent a would-be repeat offender striking your home twice.

Ensure you know what’s going on in your local area

While you may hear people talk about the “old days” where you could leave your front door unlocked, wide open even, it’s important to remember we are no longer living in the “old days” unfortunately. Burglary is a possibility, wherever you live. Even if you haven’t been targeted before, it’s worth checking the crime figures in your local area so that you can be prepared. A postcode crime checker will enable you to do this.

Secure your doors and windows

It sounds obvious, but make sure your doors and windows are locked, even if you are just popping out. Burglars like to be in and out as quickly and easily as possible, so an open window is like an invitation.

Fit a deadbolt lock to your external doors.  You don’t have to buy the most expensive one on the market, but it is worth investing in a good quality and of course robust lock.

Close internal doors so that burglars cannot see all the way through the house. This will not only help to hide valuables that might otherwise be seen from the window, but also hide whether anyone is home in another room.

Don’t draw the curtains during the day when you’re not in. This advertises to thieves that the house is free for burgling. And whatever you do, do not leave a spare door key hidden outside. Chances are they will find it and this just makes the job easier for them.

Downplay the temptation

Where possible keep expensive items that might tempt thieves out of sight, especially from the view of the street. Try not to make it obvious that you have valuable items worth stealing, both in the house and when you’re out. Walking around town flashing a brand new smartphone or expensive jewellery is going to make you an obvious target. You don’t need to downplay it so much it seems like you’re poverty stricken, just don’t make it glaringly apparent that you have things worth stealing.

Don’t advertise your brand new flat screen TV or other expensive electronic items by leaving the boxes by the front door. This just tells burglars that you’ve replaced the stuff they’ve taken, making your home an obvious repeat target.

Security

Obviously if you have already been the victim of a burglary, it would suggest that your security is probably lacking. Make sure you fix this by installing a good quality security system. Thieves can recognise fakes a mile away, so invest in a system that at the very least sets off a loud alarm.

Once you have your security system in place, make sure you keep up with regular maintenance checks. The worst thing you can do is spend money on a system that then does not do the job you bought it for because you’ve neglected to keep it in good working order.

If you’re looking for more advanced security options however, look to invest in a security system that does more than just make a noise. Advances in technology mean that security systems are available that feature motion and proximity sensors that will notify you if there is any slight movement in your home. Such systems can also stream live footage from your home straight to your smartphone, regardless of where you are in the world. Like any new technology, there are a myriad of options when it comes to the latest security systems. To give you an idea of what is available, we recommend checking out a guide such as this one.

Going away

If you are going away, do not let the world know by declaring it on social media. In the constantly connected world we live in, it’s incredibly easy to share all kinds of details about your life. This includes where you live, what your house looks like, what is inside it and when you will be away. By sharing this information, you have basically done the thieves’ homework for them. It doesn’t take much more research to then target your home.

You should be asking yourself do you really know everyone on your Facebook friends list? Are your status updates set to public? Can friends of friends see what you are posting? The same goes for Instagram, which is incredibly visual. Just a few posts of your home on Instagram and then one holiday snap could provide would-be thieves with all the research they need.

Thieves use social media to find information on potential targets, and if you’re advertising it freely it gives them a clear advantage.  So be careful what you post.

Another important thing to remember when you go away is that the house should look like it’s still occupied. Having all the lights out after dark makes it obvious no one is home.

Timers have been around for years, and with the introduction of fully automated systems that allow you to control all your electronic devices from your phone regardless of your location, it’s easy to set your lights and TV so that it appears you are in.

The best thing you can do when you go away is to arrange for someone to come and check the house to remove telltale signs that might attract thieves. Having someone remove piles of post or opening and closing curtains at the right time will make it seem like the house is occupied.

Obvious deterrents are the best

These points may sound obvious, but it is easy to make mistakes that can make you an easy target for multiple burglaries. Overall, the best defence against burglars is common sense. That, and perhaps a big dog!