Bottom Line Personal; Special Edition; Winter 2010
Top Mistakes That Make Homeowners Prime Targets for Burglars (Exerpt)

Many times, the victims are careful people who think they’re doing all the right things. But in reality, they’re making crucial mistakes that make them targets. A reformed burglar who stole over $70 million worth of jewelry during his career, and spent 11 years in prison for doing so was the source for this article. Here’s what he had to say about the mistakes people make most often.

Mistake #1: Leaving the burglar alarm off when you’re running out for a few minutes. Nearly all the houses robbed had expensive alarm systems and more than half the time, the alarms weren’t turned on! Sophisticated burglars watch neighborhoods and learn when residents go to work or run errands, and how long they are likely to be away. They’re ready to move the minute you leave. Do yourself a favor, set the alarm. The best alarms have multiple layers of protection – motion sensors, light sensors, etc.

Mistake #2: Posting detailed alarm signs. When you post a sign that identifies the alarm company, you’ve just given the burglar the information he needs to disable the alarm. All the burglar has to do is buy a diagram of how that particular alarm system is wired. Buy a generic sign from a home-supply store that simply says “This House Is Protected By An Alarm System.”

Mistake #3: Hiding valuables in the bedroom. It’s the first place burglars look. We used to spend 15 minutes or less in each house that we robbed. More than half the time was spent in the bedroom, checking the usual hiding places – underwear drawer…under the mattress…high closet shelves, etc. Keep money or jewelry you rarely wear in a safe-deposit box. Hide other valuables in places where burglars don’t think to look – in the garage, for example, or above removable ceiling tiles. Or hide valuables in the freezer or in fake soup cans made for this purpose. Don’t hide all your valuables in one place.

Mistake #4: Getting a big dog. A 100-pound Rottweiler or German Shepherd might look scary, but burglars know better. Most big breeds, unless they are trained as guard dogs, aren’t barkers. What you want are “yappers”, small dogs that make a lot of noise.

Mistake #5: Hiding windows with landscaping. Tall bushes and shrubs allow burglars to jimmy windows without being seen. Keep all bushes trimmed to below windown level. Don’t count on thorny plants to prevent entry. Professional thieves routinely wear gloves and 2 layers of clothes and carry cutting tools to remove any thorny obstacles.

Mistake #6: Leaving the lights on. A light that stays on all the time is no more of a deterrent than a dark house. In fact, it helps burglars see better once they’re inside. Use timers that turn lights on and off in different parts of the house at different intervals. Electronics and home-improvement stores sell motion detectors that turn on lights or applicances if someone enters the house. They cost approx. $20 each.

Mistake #7: Having newspaper and mail delivery stopped when you go away. You may trust your mail and newspaper carriers, but the fact is that you don’t know who else is getting the information. We used to get tips all the time about homeowners going on vacation. So keep your plans quiet. Have a neighbor or close friend pick up your paper or mail. Ask them to drop by at different times of the day. The more activity burglars see, the less likely they are to target your house.

In addition to the Bottom Line Personal information above, homeowners or renters should be wise in what they and their kids post on Facebook, MySpace or other social media outlets. People (especially kids) announcing to their friends that they are going away on public sites is advertising that the house will be empty. You don’t know who might see this information outside of your close family and friends.