Article created by: Justinas Keturka

While burglars don’t generally actually creep around with striped clothing, eye masks and sacks with a dollar sign on them, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t folks out there who might want to relieve you of your fine china or electronics. So it can be useful to know how to protect yourself.

Someone asked “Former burglars, what are some signs that your house is being targeted for a robbery?” and people, both ex criminals and the victims of burglaries, shared their stories. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote the most interesting posts and be sure to detail your own thoughts and experiences in the comments section down below.

#1

Obligatory “not a burglar”, but my aunt’s house was burgled three times, twice while I lived there. One sign is: your pets acting weird. The day my aunt left out of town, my cousins came to pick me and my sister up and her dog would NOT come into the house. He ran outside and hid under a bush. We suspect the burglar was either inside the house at the time (there were many hiding spots), or around the corner of the house, hiding.

Either way, next day my sister and I get home from school and the cops and one of my other cousins are there because the neighbor noticed the front door was open.

Image credits: anon

#2

My neighbour got robbed because he installed a dog flap.

I.e. he put a man-sized hole in his door.

We don’t even live in a particularly nice area.

Image credits: Laikitu

#3

If you open your door and a $1/2/5.00 etc, bill floats down, somebody is targeting your house.

When I was a precious angel, I used to wedge a bill on top/side of the front door. I’d check again in the early hours to see if the money was taken or put back in the wrong place. If it was, I’d leave the place alone.

I’d recommend if it happens, wether it be money or other that falls when you unlock the front door, to let the police know someone is targeting houses for a robbery.

Image credits: anon

#4

Someone rings your doorbell and runs away at 2am.

If nobody turns the light on, they do it one more time. If no light again, they assume house is empty and kick in the door.

Door to door alleged sales people posing as alarm system or satellite installers.

Besides that, not much.

Image credits: ikilledtupac

#5

A common scam in my neighborhood is to come to the door trying to sell a security system and try and get you to let them in and talk about what you need. This way they find out about what kind of security you already have. Some come as proselytizers too, carrying a bible and dressed nice, then they ask for water or to use your bathroom so they can get in and case your place.

Image credits: Leallame

#6

Markings in chalk! Like a small x somewhere you wouldn’t notice! Common where I live….

Image credits: nanogh

#7

If your neighbor gets robbed in broad daylight, you have to assume you’re next.

I once lived in a converted garage behind a house. My four roommates all lived in the main house. I was unemployed for several months and since I had no kitchen in my shack, I’d go in and out of the main house often. The landscapers knew I was there and anyone watching from the street could have seen me puttering around. One day my neighbor told me she’d been robbed in the middle of the day and asked me if I’d seen anything, which I hadn’t. But you bet as soon as I moved out and my four roommates were left without me home all the time, they got robbed almost immediately. At 4:00 in the afternoon.

Image credits: 012617

#8

Not a burglar, but grew up as the “rich” family in a rough area, we were burgled several times.

I noticed that most burglars are not exactly intelligent. It is a high risk occupation that does not pay well, don’t expect the best and brightest to do it.

If you look carefully you’ll see things being tampered with. Your gate will be opened and not shut, random extra trash for no reason, that’s them casing the place checking to see if there’s anything visible. They also like to shift things to see if they can create a blindspot to break in.

Some things you can do to prevent it, basically the things I wish my parents did when I was growing up.

Your best bet is just to slow them down. Make it faster for them to target someone else and they will.

There are window coatings that resist breakage, if you live in a high risk area get these.

Dual pane windows. Only slows them down but they’re looking for quick in and out.

Window locks. Sure they seem like stupid little whatevers, but they slow down entry.

Any recessed doors should have security screens.

Be friends with your neighbors. They are the most likely to be the burglars, you don’t rob friends, and if there is an issue a friend is more likely to interrupt.

Keep clear visibility to your windows from the street. Windows that are not visible from the street are where they will break in.

Keep garbage cans away from windows.

Keep expensive objects out of windows.

If someone is a known thief don’t invite them to move in. Yeah that’s probably the biggest problem my family had.

Really anything you can do to make the burglars more visible or to slow them down deters them.

Image credits: holomntn

#9

If you get home and your garage door opener doesn’t work, there is a chance you are in the process of being robbed or were just robbed. Burglars will pull that cable in the garage so the garage door doesn’t work that way they have more time to get away if you come home while they are still there.

Image credits: ballinlikewat

#10

If you’re moving into a newly built complex, CHANGE THE LOCKS. Just over a year ago, my housemate and his girlfriend came back to our place to find that laptops and jewellry had been nicked, and there was no sign of forced entry – also we live in South Africa, so doors are *always* locked.

Turns out the builders were cheap, and used the same three types of locks for the front doors. Strongly suspect that ex-employees of the company did a short term rental of a unit (three months probably) and just took notes of everyone’s comings and goings. Then just wander to a unit, try one of the three keys and then casually stroll out with a laptop bag stuffed with goodies. We weren’t the only unit to be hit, and the HOA only sent out a notice to be vigilant after I spoke to the niece of one of the people who were on the board.

Also, security gates are nice.

Image credits: iraddney

#11

Not a burglar but lots happens in my area.

• People coming by who are either sketchily fundraising for something or “working for so-and-so company” when you weren’t expecting anyone. They’re casing your house and figuring out when you’re home. They’re also probably figuring out the best way in and out of your place.

• Leaving boxes of big ticket items visible in your garbage or alley.

• Depending on who/where, sometimes they’ll stake out near your home or do drive-bys several times to see when you’re home.

Image credits: chornu

#12

Often, we’ll pretend to be policemen and “check up” on resident’s security measures. Often, they’ll tell us they’re going on vacation, especially during the holidays. We often case the neighborhood in a plumbing van to see if there is much activity like having lights on or parties with oddly stiff dancers. We prefer backdoors and basements entries. Be especially alert to a rash of flooded houses, a classic sign of burglars, particularly around Chicago.

Image credits: Billy_Grahamcracker

#13

One common tactic I know is that they will ring your doorbell and wait to see if anyone answers. If someone answers they know that someone is home and make up some stupid excuse as to why they ringed it. Something “oh I thought this was X’s place” – which rarely occurs in the first place since people always double check apartment number when visiting for first time.

If they know no one is home, they’ll break in.

This happened to a string of apartments when I was in school and there was a reported number of thefts. When he rang my doorbell I didn’t think much of it. But later I realized it was the same robber trying to target my apartment. I gave a report to the cops about what this person looked like – turns out others reported him too. [He] was caught by a patrolling cop car roaming the sidewalk trying to rob homes. He was arrested and I think he’s doing hard time now.

Image credits: anon

#14

A nice place in a rural area, no close neighbors, and a short driveway. Pay attention to a strange vehicle driving by at different hours. Get a camera, put it on your front door, they will generally knock first. Do not keep valuables in a portable safe. Good luck.

Image credits: Whiskey1978

#15

If you live in the snowbelt, check for tracks and shoe prints.

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Image credits: Jay_Eye_MBOTH_WHY