How Do Thieves Get Into Your Home and What Do They Get?
Have you ever wondered how burglars break into a locked house? The protection of your home, family, and belongings is a major priority. But before you create a strategy to secure your property, you must arm yourself with the proper information.
Between 2020 and 2021, statistics show that 55.8 thousand burglary offenses were recorded in London. There might be more unreported cases. Take note that home burglaries happen frequently, and burglars create effective plans. Yet, they’re not masterminds like what we see on TV, and in movies, so you can take safety measures to avoid them.
Here are important facts about home burglaries you need to know before implementing your home security plans:
How Do Burglars Get In Your House?
1. Front Doors and Back Doors
Though intruders use the front door more than the back door, they choose which is more convenient. Simply locking your doors helps prevent this, but they can still find ways to force them. First, they will check the bushes and trees around your property to hide from your neighbors.
Avoid leaving your spare keys. Aside from DIY hacks, like inserting a crowbar at the lock point, consider installing a quality security system, such as Honeywell video surveillance.
2. First-Floor Windows
Most thieves search for a ground-level passageway, and the windows on your home’s first floor are one of those. Some homeowners forget to close their windows, especially during the hot summer months. In addition, burglars take advantage of air conditioning units positioned in windows by pulling the unit out and forcing the window open. Moving these to safer areas, locking your windows when no one’s around, and installing secondary locking mechanisms keep your windows fully secure.
3. They Climb Through Ladders and Trees
Even if you left your windows and doors locked, there are items already in your yard that give burglars access to second-floor windows and balcony doors. These include a ladder beside your sheds and garage, tall trees near your house, or even your child’s playhouse.
Intruders will look for anything to get to the higher windows or doors. Never leave anything around your home that thieves can use to climb when you leave your house.
4. Sliding Glass Doors
Large, sliding glass doors are easy to shatter, and their locks are vulnerable to failure.
You can put a broomstick or dowel along the bottom of the door so that nobody can open it. You may also install a glass break detector with an alarm that goes off once it detects the sound of shattered glass.
Other options are a shatterproof film or a heavy-duty sliding door lock.
Items Burglars Search in Your House
Burglars don’t take the risk for ordinary things. Typically, they look for items that they can sell for a large sum of money. But there are also surprising things they grab that you might not know. Below are expensive and ordinary products that they want to find in your house:
- Jewelry
- Cash, purse, or wallet
- Electronics (mobile phones, laptops, TVs, cameras)
- Expensive sneakers
- Medication
- Bags
- Household furniture
- Vehicle or vehicle parts
- Clothing
- Keys (car, house)
- Arts and collectibles
- Your identity
- Groceries
Key Takeaways
It’s important to check all your locks regularly for signs of damage so you can have them replaced. No matter how expensive and tough your door locks are, everything is subject to wear and tear. Always lock your windows and doors, especially when you leave the house.
Lock your ladders and grills in the garage, and trim any tree limbs away from your house. Include bushes and shrubs around your home’s perimeter since they can provide cover to burglars.
Though DIY hacks help avoid intruders from forcing your locked doors and windows, getting a camera and making it visible is still one of the best ways to deter them. It discourages them from stepping into your property because they don’t want to get caught if they see that your house is well-secured. Also, even if some burglaries are planned, many thieves are opportunists wandering the streets looking for easy break-ins.
If you’re not on a tight budget, installing a video door entry system is the best and effective way to secure your property. Click here for more info about this home security device.
