“But my house will never be broken into,” is a comforting statement that far too many victims of burglaries told themselves before they came home one day to find that robbers had struck.
As a homeowner, you have to be prepared for the possibility of likewise coming home one day to discover that your home has had a break-in.
While you can never be 100% sure that your home will never be broken into, you can prepare your home to make it as difficult as possible for burglars to break into.
Here are ten things that burglars don’t want you to know:
You Should Reinforce The Front Door
Many homeowners don’t reinforce their front doors because they believe it’s too obvious of an entrance point. Burglars will always try to find a sneaky way in, right? Sometimes yes…and sometimes not.
It’s actually estimated that around a third of all burglars break into houses via the front door.
A common trick is for burglars to knock on the door pretending to be someone innocent, and when they hear no response, they’ll either open the front door if it’s unlocked or pry it open.
Always reinforce your front door with heavy duty locks and hinges, and consider replacing a wooden door with a steel one (just in case a robber gets the idea to try and break their way in with brute force via a sledgehammer, which can happen).
⇒ This “Quick Fix” Is More Effective In Keeping Out Looters Than A Solid Steel Door
Also install a home security system so you are always alerted when the front door is opened.
Don’t Leave Your Keys Under A Flower Pot Outside
This is one of the oldest practices in the book: people will leave a key to the front door under a flower pot on the front porch.
Most burglars are acutely aware of this practice and after knocking on the door to confirm nobody is home you can bet they’ll be checking under the flower pots looking for that key.
They’ll Come During The Day
It’s a common misconception that burglaries only happen at night, such as while you’re away on vacation or when you’re on a date night with your spouse while the kids are at a friend’s house.
In reality, more burglaries happen during the daytime than at night. Burglars who are smart will monitor a targeted home to see what times of the day the occupants leave, specifically to see when the kids will be taken to school and when you and your spouse will leave for work.
They’ll make their move when they have verified that everyone out of the house is gone, regardless of whether it’s nighttime or day time.
Don’t Leave Your Ladders Outside
Not all burglars will break into a home on the lowest level.
If you leave any ladders outside, a burglar could get the idea to set it up to ascend to a higher level of the home and break in through one of the second or third story windows. If they’re smart, the burglar will likely wear the uniform of a home repairman in this scenario to ensure any neighbors watching won’t get any suspicions.
The Warmer The Weather, The Higher The Chances of A Break-In
Burglaries are also more likely to happen in the warm summer months than during the winter.
This is because burglars know that people are likely to spend more time away from home when it’s hot outside. Burglaries can happen at any time of the year, but note that the likelihood is during the summer.
Bar Your Sliding Glass Doors
Do you have any sliding glass doors in your home? Always install a dowel or a broomstick along the bottom of the door so no one can open it from the outside.
The only alternative for a burglar in this case would be to smash the window open, but installing more durable Plexiglas windows can help mitigate this.
They’ll Go For Stuff Outside Rather Than Inside
Keep in mind that burglaries are not just relegated to the interiors of homes. Burglars will also target any detached garages or shops that you have apart from the home, and they’ll look for anything of value you have lying around outside such as tools or bicycles.
You Should Reinforce Your Windows
Burglars don’t want you to reinforce your windows for the simple reason that they are the easiest entry point besides the doors.
Make sure you have a glass break detector installed in your home, so a loud alarm will be triggered if it picks up on the sound of shattered glass.
Related: DIY Off-Grid Alarm System Against Intruders
You should also install heavy duty locks and hinges on all of your windows (including the second and third story windows) and consider replacing the normal glass with a stronger glass (such as Plexiglas) that a burglar will have a harder time breaking down.
Make sure that all windows are closed when you are not home as well. .
Don’t Store Your Valuables With Your Clothing
Burglars want you to think that you’re being creative by stashing valuables (such as jewelry or guns) amongst your clothing.
In reality, when a burglar enters a bedroom one of the first things he or she will do is open your dresser drawers and rummage through your clothing looking for something valuable to take. Shoeboxes are another obvious target.
On that note, don’t store anything of value in your closet either, as it’s another target that burglars often go after.
Post Security Cameras Around The Properties
Even the most experienced of burglars will be intimidated by the sight of security cameras and have second thoughts about proceeding. Ideally make sure the security cameras are real, but even installing realistic looking fake cameras can be a good deterrence.
If you can put the above tips and strategies into practice, you’ll definitely frustrate any burglar who attempts to break into your home. Ideally, they’ll give up and move onto the next house, in which case hopefully your neighbors have put the same tips into practice.
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we were burglarized a long time ago, they broke in thru the front door. the only thing we found missing was a jar of change so we believe it was kids. we live in webster county, mo and when the sheriffs dept came out to fill out a report we told them that we didn’t touch anything on the door so they could dust for fingerprints. the deputy said that they did that on tv and they didnt do that or even have the equipment to do that. very unprofessional if you ask me. i,m telling this so people don’t rely on local law enforcement too much. we’ve since have installed security systems on our property. i hope no one has to go thru the experience we did.
Hey, what about those wealthy non-Hawaiian resident like Oprah. Will they help out Biden and the D-Governor?
Oprah is often referred as the “Queen of Maui.”
Oprah on her TV show gave that audience free cars. There were strings attached. They had to pay license fees and taxes. Will Maui get the same treatment?
Same thing with Bud Light at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August. Did they drink that liberal kool-aid?
Did they support a better non-woke beer brand?
Should we do the same with our corrupt political system?
A good burglars stopper is a sound of a sh*tgun loading a round. Criminals think twice about what’s next.
Hawaii is a Demoncrat gun restricted State, so criminals have a better chance to burgle Mister Roger’s neighborhood. The genuine Hawaiians have their own justice. It’s the CA-WA-NYC liberal wannabe Hawaiian transplants, who gum up the systems where ever they go.
Okra is NWO.
When my house was burglarized in 2002 the sheriff’s dept got finger print powder all over my carpet in front of my safe. It never came out. Sometimes it is better if they don’t check for prints.
It doesn’t matter if it does happen or will happen. If we can’t believe or trust. The official warnings or no warnings from our elected officials. And the fearmongering lame stream news media reporting. Or their version of the truth to us.
We have seen that twisted version in the Biden administration telling us the open Southern Border is secure. We got cities full of unknown potential dangerous mental, criminals, rapist and terrorist ready to do harm.
The news media is a lapdog of the leftist here. We don’t get a real outlook of our reality locally and nationwide.
We did depend on public service warning systems for our safety. The illusion was broken recently by the Demoncrat Hawaiian Maui debacle. The water czar an the water shortage. The warning system working or not working.
The incompetent officials in charge. More is coming on the
Now take that further to our cities, States and the whole nation. Are we ready for our America to be safe from the illegal burglars entering the broken borders?
We got incompetent elected and non elected bureaucrat’s more concerned about their union retirements than our safety.
If we don’t feel safe or logically think were safe in our America. Do we start to look at how we can all fix the broken systems?
Our country is our castle too as much as our homes are our castle of safety. Time to repair both of them back to community safety standards. It won’t be easy.
One thing to fix is the underage 18 yr old brats that commits crimes. The news media covers or blurs their faces. Plaster their clear visible faces like the older criminals on TV. Shame them and their family. Parents made that young pathetic criminal. They should share the blame and responsibility of the brads.
Take America back.
I disagree that parents are the ones to blame if their child becomes a criminal. Sorry to say that some children are just born with evil tendencies and no amount of love and training can eliminate it. A good friend of mine has 3 children, one who is a criminal and has tried to kill her and two that are good kids. Same parents. Different outcome. I’m not saying that parents don’t have any influence on how their children turn out. But it doesn’t apply to all.
There might a very few exceptions to the rules in today’s society’s chaos theory. We got the Biden crime family in charge and his political supporter minions.
Hunter is one such fine example and the govt covers up the details. We have a 2-tiered legal system. President is suppose to lead by example. Carry a big stick to subdue the extremists.
We can agree to disagree and agree on things in common. Biden’s 4 years of hell to the American citizens is enough. We got to fix things grassroots by division.
Did Oprah buy up, expanded Maui acreage there? Is Billy Gates and China doing the same thing? It is on the internet right or wrong information, as we wonder. Social media, the internet is full of truths and lies and AI don’t make it any easier to navigate the truth.
Actually in total; Biden’s Ukraine war is spending 200 Billion in taxpayers’ money. Maui gets SQUAT from the globalist Biden economy!
You guys are still Demoncrats?
Switch to be Libertarian at least. You see California is next and so on.
Biden’s Aid Disparity: $700 for Maui’s Afflicted vs. $200M Ukraine Pledge
Wake up America, you are being fleeced to support the world first, America LAST!!!
Voting libertarian is like dating your sister. How many libertarians have won an elcyion yo an important office?
With the one or two party we have now. People want a third party. But who will be the crossovers? More liberals than conservatives or the other way around.
Only because the Libertarians have a political identity to people. Not that they will save the day. It is a start to get the voters thinking.
Get the momentum going of what would another party could do. Eventually that party will get corrupted too.
Obama answers to the NWO and he’s in Term #3 right now. Joey is just the deflection shield at the podium. Obama is about to hand control of the USA over to the NWO, just as ALL other NATO countries have already been.
I’d guess major false flags with real deaths, blamed on Putin, to allow Obama to justify Martial Law …………. and then it’s on. He’s removed many many thousands of patriot or conservative enlisted and officer – OUT of our military for a reason, folks. search it.
Our America has and is being burglarized by illegals getting free stuff too. We got high security systems on the border either shutoff or in disrepair. Our safety is in jeopardy.
The great Mexico-California hurricane/tropical storm hyped up by the lame stream news media. Was an over bloatware bust.
Did the officials really check their emergency warning systems like Maui Demoncrats did?
Are these wildfires a cover to get the population into high density housing crowded into cities? “They” have better control of our physical movements.
People have indoor security cameras monitored by private companies. Where does all those recorded videos get stored to?
As a nation we are one of the most heavily video surveilled country in the world. Next to China. Most people don’t care someone is watching us, in our ‘Ring doorbell’ ‘simply safe’ type homes’ 24/7. Do we need all those cameras to be safe?
My Pitbull dogs are good for me, scars the bad guts who sneak around.
Het what about those wealthy non-Hawaiian residents like Where Is Oprah’s House In Maui? “Oprah Winfrey is often referred to as the “Queen of Maui.”
Will she and others help the Maui resident’s? Like she did on her TV show giving away free cars to the audience. Those people had to pay for taxes, registration. That was pure nut’s with the free giveaways she use to do. Will Maui get the same treatment? Are their strings attached to good deeds there?
I know thus is a bit nit picky but in most, maybe all, jurisdictions a BURGLARY can ONLY happen in an OCCUPIRD DWELLING AT NIGHT. Otherwise it’s a “breaking and entering and theft”. It’s also NOT a “robbery ” as so many say. A robbery is basically done by someone using a weapon to confront you and force you to turn over property or money to them under the threat of injury or death. Again I know I’m being a bit nit picky but things like that just irritate the heck out of me. Just like when people call us a “democracy ” when we are a REPUBLIC. And there is a difference. You would NOT like living in a true democracy. Look up both terms.
Need a sensor that detects when someone knocks at your door.
Sensor causes a recording of someone racking a 12 gauge shotgun to play loudly.
Just be sure to leave some toilet paper on the porch so as to be nice
Thieves Don’t fear Law and Order
Thieves Don’t Fear God
YOU must always make sure they are coming at you to defend yourself
YOUR dog must be able to Eat Them and not stop until you command to so as to imflict maximum damage
YOUR lites must be able to come on so you can shoot accurately and make sure they dont get up after the Kill
YOU must know YOUR target so as not to make mistakes
you must know the law so you are not taken to jail and they walk freely
YOU cannot protect materials , so they have to come at you in the attack so you are defending yourself
NEVER shoot in the back or on the way running away like the cowards they are
lites , dogs , cameras , barriers so you dont have to do the above
BETTER to scare off than to have to commit to above actions
Why is it every disaster brings out the religious right and left. They have to do their religious fearmongering?
Religion and politics as mentioned by others are a bore.
If we have not believed in God at any point in our lives, it won’t matter. We know where we are going to.
Bible thumping as said in other posts is annoying.
Verse 1:1, Blah, Blah, Blah!
Enjoy hell
Thieves Don’t fear Law and Order
Thieves Don’t Fear God or consequence for actions
YOU must always make sure they are coming at you to defend yourself
YOUR dog must be able to Eat Them and not stop until you command to so as to imflict maximum damage
YOUR lites must be able to come on so you can shoot accurately and make sure they dont get up after the hit
YOU must know YOUR target so as not to make mistakes
you must know the law so you are not taken to jail and they walk freely
YOU cannot protect materials , so they have to come at you in the attack so you are defending yourself
NEVER shoot in the back or on the way running away like the cowards they are
lites , dogs , cameras , barriers so you dont have to do the above
BETTER to scare off than to have to commit to above actions
You forgot about Mobile Motion Detectors aka Dogs.
Most burglars won’t chance an encounter with a dog.
Dog bites are very painful ?
I used to live in San Antonio, Tex. Most people had security systems paying that monthly bill etc. And still got broke into. Mindy you the criminals knew how long it takes cops to get there so they where in and out well within that time frame. Me on the other hand I had an Indoor outdoor 57 lb dog and another 12 lb dog. That loved fresh meat. Over a period of 2 years almost every home with security system was broke into more than once. Thus, the security system turned out to be nothing more than an expensive way of letting you know you was ripped off. My dogs on the other hand. Never let anyone get close to the house in the whole time never got ripped off once. Plus it was cheaper than the security system.
Dog spelled backwards is GOD, so God is watching those punk bast*rds. By using his canine friends with teeth, he, he. Cats protect our spiritual side and rid of rats an mice too.
Dogs are man’s best friend, for sure.
Might want to let a friend know when to expect them home. Lol Army Retired Infantryman 11B10.
You retired as a specialist lol wtf
I support Pre action , prevention , and strong deterance so the idiot, uneducated Moron must think twice
Strength is deterance
Weekness is invitation
beware of our new sociaty of moral decay and faithless
God Commands me to Protect the week and Destroy the Evil
Thats is the end game here , JUDGEMENT from God , Consequence to Actions
My paycheck is being robbed every day of my life and there’s nothing I can do about it
And given to people who hate you, refuse to try, or in other countries who are plotting the demise of America.
Congress is 90% bought off or compromised by Epstein, CCP money or NWO money or billionaires money.
The working, trying, legal person today is of no concern to the GOP or dems. They’ve either turned on us or are total cowards – filling their own Cayman Island bank accounts.
Every time the comments devolve into the usual right vs left political views then we know common sense has left the building. Preparedness & Protection are not political. Be great if we could constructively add to the discussion sharing additional thoughts and ideas on how to deter criminals and secure our homes. Instead, we just vomit out the ole’ rhetoric and fly off the rails once again.
For those making contributions and comments that helps others become stronger and more secure in Preparedness then…
Be Smart and Prep On
As a now retired patrol officer and detective in an urban suburb of a major US city, I can confirm that these ten items are accurate. Another tip is that once a B&E man is inside your house he/she will almost always unlock the front door (if entry was made through a window) and unlock the back door(s). Quick escape routes if the homeowners or police show up.
Most B&E men (those with any sense) avoid breaking windows to force entry. Too easy to be cut on broken glass. In these days of rather quick and accurate DNA testing it’s hard to deny it was their blood at the crime scene. My department proved a B&E of a doctor’s office this way. The B&E man also tried to stop the bleeding by using the nice sterile 4×4 dressings and left them behind. The crime lab techs were tickled to death as those gauze pads collect by the evidence techs were as close to uncontaminated as evidence gets. The patrol guys actually caught the B&E man a few blocks away as he was well known as a B&E man who preferred to use windows. At 1:00am, he was worthy of a check see. The fresh cuts on his hands gave him away and he was arrested. The DNA proved the case. He went back to prison to serve his remaining parole time and his new case added about 15-years.
B&E is mainly slang these days for a home invasion. Home Invasion is the newer term in the law biz. If people are at home during the Home Invasion, the penalty is usually higher than if no one was home. Business burglaries are usually still called B&E or burglary, depending on the state.
You are correct to mention that “robbery” is a crime against a person. Armed robbery is what it is, a weapon is used, brandished, or even implied (the old put your hand in a pocket and pretend you have a gun ploy). Unarmed robbery is where physical force is used (like a purse snatching). B&E or burglary is a crime against property. One cannot commit a crime against a person when committing the crime against property. Nit picky? Not really. Just the way it is in the criminal law biz. It’s a technical term of art, just like a doctor calling an laceration just that instead of a boo-boo.