If you’re looking to protect your home from thieves and burglars, the best place to start is by putting yourself in their shoes. If you can think like a robber and know what they look for when targeting houses, you stand a better chance of deterring criminals from targeting your property.
To learn more about the key areas that burglars look out for when casing properties, keep reading this blog!
1. Signs of Vacancy
The first thing that burglars look for when trying to find a house to target is signs of vacancy. Houses that are overflowing with post and packages, have overgrown landscaping and often have the blinds drawn and lights off in the evenings are prime targets as they suggest that nobody is attending to the property or that the residents are away. Similarly, posting on social media in real-time that you are away on holiday puts you at a huge risk of getting burgled as it tells burglars that your house has been left unattended.
2. Easy Access
Another key area that burglars look for is easy access points so that they can minimise the time spent at a property and reduce the risk of being seen or caught. Most burglars would prioritise a speedy, efficient and quiet entry over a complex, high-risk break in. Any unlocked ground floor windows and doors or poorly secured back entrances are attractive to burglars and can put your home at risk. Houses surrounded by high fences or thick bushes are also desirable as they provide great cover, hiding the burglar from the view of passersby and neighbours.
3. Signs of High Value
Burglars are typically opportunistic and look for homes that offer them the highest possible reward. Having valuable items like electronics, jewellery or car keys being visible through windows is a sure-fire way to attract burglars, as is having luxury cars in the driveway or garage. Boxes for new TVs, computers or other technology being left out in bins can also lead to your house becoming a target as it suggests to burglars that you have valuables inside they could steal and sell for a profit.
4. Lack of Security
Burglars also seek out homes that lack visible security like security cameras, alarm systems and warning decals. Houses lacking security minimise the risk of the robber getting caught and maximise the speed of the break-in – two very desirable qualities to burglars. To keep your house secure, consider investing in some high-quality security measures; after all, even just the sight of a simple security camera is often enough to deter criminals from targeting your property!
At IDS Security, our security specialists can visit your property and carry out a security survey to determine which security systems would be most beneficial to your home. We can even design a bespoke security system that is specifically tailored to your property’s requirements!
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