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Former Burglars Share Things They Looked For Before Targeting A House

Former Burglars Share Things They Looked For Before Targeting A House

Ex-burglars have listed some of the things they would look out for when deciding which home to target

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

It's not too surprising that burglaries dropped last year as everyone was locked into their homes for most of the time.

But with robberies expected to be on the rise again, some former burglars have offered some sound advice to people wanting to prevent becoming a target.

Stock image.
tommaso altamura/Alamy Stock Photo

The ex-burglars have teamed up with security retailers Safe.co.uk to pass on their tricks of the tra... well, maybe just their tips.

First of all, it's advised that we all purchase some exterior lights as a way of protecting your home - specifically those that are triggered by motion.

One of the ex-burglars explained: "I'd always skip the house with big outdoor security lights," while Safe.co.uk's managing director, Anthony Neary, added: "Turn on all exterior lights at night where possible.

"A house in the dark could appeal to a burglar as it looks like nobody is in the property, and there could be an assumption that the owner is asleep or not at home.

"Any dark or shadowed areas are ideal for a burglar to try to approach the house undetected, making security lights essential in the new season."

Stock image.
Jochen Tack/Alamy Stock Photo

The next bit of advise is to get a pet because, according to one homeowner, the reason their house hasn't been touched is because they have a 'Beware of the Dog' sign on their fence and the 'Dog' referred to is a Dachshund... which has an average weight of around 16 to 32 pounds.

The pooch will bark and in turn cause the criminal to feel at risk of being caught.

It's also a good idea to be wary when going on holiday. Try not to make it completely obvious that you're packing the car to go away. I mean, maybe that's difficult if you've got a huge yellow suitcase, but just keep your wits about you.

You could also consider asking your neighbour to visit your house every few days to make sure there are no signs of the home being vacant. Maybe they could pop on a couple of lights and remove any mail.

A Safe.co.uk expert said: "Burglars can tell if a family has gone on holiday. From full letterboxes, to forgotten milk deliveries and left out wheely bins, the signs show that the property is vacant.

"If you are going away for an extended period of time, ask a trusted neighbour or friend to maintain any elements that could be an advertisement for burglars."

Stock image.
Ingemar Edfalk/Alamy Stock Photo

It's also thought that you should be aware of repeat offenders as your home is more likely to be targeted if you've already been robbed.

An ex-burglar explained: "Burglars come back to the same houses quite often. They do this because of a number of motives.

"It's guaranteed that the people they robbed replaced the stuff they stole the first time, and often these replacements are of better quality than the original."

Featured Image Credit: Brian Jackson/Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: UK News, UK

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