How can I make my house less attractive to burglars?

Dark perimeters and nicely paved driveways just beckon a burglar to take a closer look at your home. Outside lighting is crucial, and listed as one of the best deterrents for keeping thieves away. Look into floodlights that are triggered by motion–nothing's more off-putting to an intruder than being in the spotlight.

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How do I stop burglars from targeting my house?

How To Deter Burglars From Targeting Your House Or Business
  1. Your Front Door is Your First Line of Defence. ...
  2. Choose a security expert to install high quality door locks and window locks. ...
  3. High-end, professionally monitored burglar alarms. ...
  4. Visible CCTV cameras. ...
  5. Indoor lights on a timer.

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What are burglars most afraid of?

Alarm Systems or Sirens — A Useful Burglar Deterrent

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.

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What puts burglars off?

Hedges and plants - Prickly bushes and hedges around a garden can act as a deterrent to a burglar. Lighting and driveways - Get an outdoor light with a sensor that comes on when someone's around and don't underestimate the deterrent of a gravel drive. It makes quite a noise when walked on and can deter burglars.

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Where are burglars the least likely to look?

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. As an extra safety precaution make sure to mark them with labels like “winter clothes” or “old shoes” to throw a burglar off of your scent.

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Tips to Make Your House Less Attractive to Burglars : Home Safety Tips

41 related questions found

Which room do burglars typically search first?

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. They'll look for cash in cupboards, drawers, under the mattress and also in those places you thought they'd never look, like shoe boxes or vases.

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Do burglars prefer light or dark?

A study by the Office for National Statistics also found that 60% of burglaries take place during the day. More often than not, your constant night-time lights won't make a difference to whether or not you're burgled.

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What are burglars most likely to steal?

Here are the items that are most often stolen in home break-ins.
  1. Jewelry and watches. Jewelry and watches are two of the most commonly stolen items in a home invasion. ...
  2. Wallets and cash. ...
  3. Electronics. ...
  4. Prescription drugs. ...
  5. Cars and parts. ...
  6. Clothes. ...
  7. Furniture. ...
  8. Bicycles.

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Do burglars break in front or back?

Most of the time, they're not “breaking” in at all

According to her research, an overwhelming majority of burglars enter homes through the doors and windows. Thirty-four percent use the front door, while 22 percent get in through the back door.

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What time of the day do most burglaries occur?

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.

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What burglars don t want you to know?

5 Secrets burglars don't want you to know
  • Your front door is too enticing.
  • Your home isn't scary enough.
  • You're way too predictable.
  • Your yard is an easy target.
  • You're leaving your second floor vulnerable.

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What house is most likely to be burgled?

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.

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What is the most common ways burglars enter homes?

These are the most common points of entry for home break-ins:
  • Front door: 34% of burglars twist the doorknob and walk right in.
  • First-floor windows: 23% use a first-floor open window to break into your home.
  • Back door: 22% come in through the back door.
  • Garage doors: 9% gain entrance through the garage.

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Do curtains deter burglars?

Locked doors and windows provide an added deterrent for break-ins. "If people would just lock their doors and windows, that would prevent a lot of burglaries," Lynch said. Another tip is to rekey... Put up curtains or blinds to make it more difficult for burglars to peep inside your home.

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Why am I so afraid of burglars?

Past trauma or experience – Scelerophobia can be induced by experiencing or witnessing criminal activity. For example, your home might have been burgled or the home of someone in your family or in your street. Genetics – You're more likely to develop scelerophobia if a direct relative has a phobia or OCD.

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How can I make my house more secure?

Top tips to protect your home
  1. Keep an eye on your home. ...
  2. Light up the front drive and garden. ...
  3. Install a visual security alarm. ...
  4. Increase gate and fence security. ...
  5. Safely store spare keys. ...
  6. See who's at the door. ...
  7. Secure your outdoor buildings. ...
  8. Protect your bikes.

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What time do most robberies occur at night?

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.

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Do burglars look under the bed?

Burglars look under the bed, in closets, in dresser drawers and medicine cabinets in your bathroom. Next burglars will hit up the kitchen and living room for electronics, credit cards, keys and personal information.

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Do burglars climb to second floor?

Burglars may still attempt a break-in via the second floor if they're using guesswork as to whether the doors and windows are unlocked. For this reason, it's best to get a security system. Installing a proper alarm will guarantee that no matter which floor a burglar tries to get in through, you'll be notified.

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How do you tell if your house is being cased?

Common Signs Your House Is Being Cased
  1. Sign #1: Parked but Occupied Vehicles. ...
  2. Sign #2: A Knock on the Door. ...
  3. Sign #3: Binoculars and Cameras. ...
  4. Sign #4: Same Faces, Different Day. ...
  5. Sign #5: Strangers in Your Yard. ...
  6. Step #1: Cameras. ...
  7. Step #2: A Home Security System. ...
  8. Step #3: Consider a Dog.

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How do thieves choose their victims?

Victims. Street robbers search for victims who appear to have money or other valuables—for example, students and tourists. They also target people who appear to be the most vulnerable—like young adults using ATMs alone at night or under the influence of alcohol.

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Do burglars mark houses?

Did you even know that burglars often use a code of symbols to mark out homes they want to target? Code, symbols and markings have become widely used tactics among burglars to help them break into homes.

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What rooms do burglars target?

The first place most burglars look is the master bedroom [2]. Many burglars then move on to a study, library, or office where electronics are located. Bathrooms are also popular, where the thief goes through your medicine cabinet. Various cabinets and drawers throughout the house.

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Why should you turn off the lights when you leave a room?

Turning off the lights when you leave your room can help save energy. It can also help reduce carbon emission and other harmful greenhouse gases. Hence, turning off your lights is a simple way to help protect the environment and save the planet.

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Should you leave your front door light on at night?

When you're home at night. This is a good time to leave the porch light on. It alerts burglars to your presence, particularly if indoor lights are on too. The porch light also acts as a spotlight on the front door.

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