The numbers are startling; More than two million homeowners report a burglary every year. Almost two-thirds of all burglaries occur in homes. A burglar commits a crime one time every 30 seconds.
Perhaps the most troubling statistic of all: Only 17% of Americans have installed a security system for their homes.
Although an electronic home security system dramatically reduces the odds of you experiencing a home burglary, many thieves possess the skills and knowledge to overcome the most elaborate home security systems.
Let’s examine five strategies thieves use to overcome your best security efforts.
Thieves Want to Know More about You
Before a burglar breaks into your home, he or she will gather as much information about you to learn not only your regular routine, but also basic information such as your name and phone number. Thieves typically begin the detective phase of a break in by rummaging through your mailbox. The answer to this common tactic is to remove mail as quickly as you can after a mail carrier delivers it. Second on a thief’s investigative list is determining whether you have installed a home security system. Remember not to display the name of the company that installed your home security system. Experienced burglars know how where to find the wires and sensors that are uniquely placed by different security companies. Instead a law enforcement backed sign that declare your home is protected by a home security system.
Don’t Assume First Floor Entry
FBI statistics show burglars prefer to enter homes via first floor doors and windows. In fact, the two primary points of entry comprise nearly 66% of all home burglaries. However, savvy thieves like to start on the second floor of homes to rummage through their favorite targets: bedrooms. If you leave a ladder out in the yard, a burglar will notice that during the inspection part of the burglary. Some thieves bring their own ladders to access second floor bedrooms. Experienced thieves wear at least two layers of clothing to prevent thorns from scratching the skin. Therefore, planting thorny bushes near first floor windows might not deter all thieves. You should place point-of-entry sensors at every door and window. Bars and grilles also work if you use screws that measure at least three inches long.
Clipped Wires
Most home security systems connect to power and telephone lines. Even a novice thief understands that by clipping a wire connected to a power line, your home security system will stop sending signals to the home security system company. A growing number of new homes include hidden power boxes and telephone lines. The phone lines and power boxes attach to the foundation of a home, not to an outside electricity source. If changing the way your power and telephone lines connect to the home security system costs too much money, consider using a cellular company and purchase a backup generator used exclusively for the home security system.
When Cameras Fail
It sounds frightening, but the fact is all of the cameras installed to watch for thieves are one wire clip away from disabling. Burglars avoid cameras that move in 360 degree circles by timing the speed of the camera movement. Then, with one clip of the main wire, the camera goes dead. Wireless might sound like a good idea, but it is easy for thieves to hack a wireless camera and disrupt it. To prevent the strategy thieves use to compromise home security systems, hire a professional home security company to make inaccessible the wires connecting to your security cameras.
Who Needs Friends…
…when Facebook attracts enemies. Social media represents a fertile source for thieves who not only learn about you, but also find out when you and your family do not plan to be home. Professional burglars incorporate stalking into the thievery strategy by monitoring tweets and Facebook alerts. One of the biggest mistakes made by homeowners is letting the world know when the family plans to take a two week vacation. This kind of information allows thieves to discard the “10 minutes and I’m out of the house rule.” Update your privacy setting on social networking sites to make it difficult for thieves to learn more about you.