Why do burglars break in

Although the number of home break-ins, burglaries and trespassing has gone up and down from through , according to the U. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 13 millions property crimes took place in the country in That works out to more than a hundred per thousand households, or upward of 10 percent. Besides stealing valuable property, burglars leave victims with a sense of having been violated. Worse still, if you, your family, pets or friends are at home during a break-in, actual violence could occur, whether you confront the trespassers or not.

Fortunately, there are simple ways to deter property crimes and intruders. Most thieves are opportunists. They will go after the easiest pickings. The smartest way to form a strategy for self-defense of your home and loved ones is to think about how trespassers could break into your place. By listing and then protecting these most common entry points, you can form a solid defense plan that will deter all but the most determined criminals.

Front Doors. Sadly, the most common entry point for friends, family, pets and welcome visitors is also the most typical way burglars get into houses and apartments.

Even if you are careful about locking your door, you should make sure family members and guests lock the front door, too. Naturally, you should always lock your front door and other entry points to your home when you are away, whether for a quick errand or trip to the store or a long vacation. But you may want friends, relatives or neighbors to have a way to get into your home in case of an emergency or just to water your plants or feed your fish.

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Around 2 in households were victims of domestic burglary last year in the UK, and while it is impossible to completely eliminate the chances of it happening to you, there are some measures you can take to deter burglars from targeting your home.

When evaluating your home security, try to think like a burglar and identify where there are weak points in your home which can be exploited to allow unwarranted entry. There are a few key elements burglars look for when targeting a home, which you should take into consideration when securing yours. Find our guide for how burglars pick their target houses below:. The less secure your lock is, the easier it will be for burglars to quickly break in.

At Banham, we offer maximum security front door locks , which feature 6-pin drill resistant cylinders, making it even more difficult for burglars to break or pick the lock. Windows are also a common entry point, especially during the summer months.

It is common for homeowners to forget they have left a window open to let some air in the house, leaving space for someone to easily break in. Windows that overlook a low roof on a house can also entice burglars, especially if they can climb onto the roof to reach the room. A good quality window lock can secure your home against intruders who are looking to gain entry to your property in this way.

Shockingly, only four out of ten homeowners lock their doors and windows when they go out, leaving their homes vulnerable to burglars during the day and overnight. Your house and car keys are also a part of this list. A lot of burglars are known to steal house keys to either sell them off to their peers or easily let themselves in the next time.

They are usually kept in pretty obvious places near the entrance to quickly grab on your way out, also making it easy for burglars to steal. Some people even leave their keys in the back of the door , which is a huge security risk. Many burglars are most active during the day and try to appear as discreet as possible. Therefore, it is very important to stay vigilant and look for signs that indicate your house is being watched by potential burglars. Regardless of when burglars prefer to strike, you must make sure your property remains safe and protected from threats, all day and all night.

In order to do that, you need to burgle-proof your house to keep such criminals far away from you and your property. Simple steps such as reinforcing your doors and windows, lighting up the property, and installing a security system can be what stands between you and targeted crime. One of the first things that burglars look for when targeting your house to break into is how easy it is to enter without getting noticed. Sturdy construction materials such as wood, composite, and uPVC will make them strong enough to prevent break-ins using common tools, coupled with good quality locks and steel bars if needed.

Two things make a door strong: the material it is built with and the quality of the locks on it. When choosing a good quality lock to prevent unauthorised access, there are several great options to choose from. Some of the best ones include deadbolts, mortice locks, rim locks, lever locks, and anti-snap cylinders or Euro locks.

If you wish to take your home security a step further, you may also invest in keyless entry systems for your home. In addition to installing a good locking mechanism on your door, make sure to be careful about who you hand over your keys or access credentials to. Burglars will use tools and bricks or rocks to help force entry, and ladders, bins or stools to help them climb over fences and into windows.

Put tools and ladders in a secure shed or garage, or bring them inside. Tactic: Burglars are less likely to target properties with dogs. You could also try tricks like leaving a dog bowl and toys outside. Tactic: Thieves are more likely to target properties that are vacant. Piled up mail is also a sign of a vacant property. These will not only help to deter burglars, but also will alert you should a thief attempt to break in.

Put up signs or stickers that show you have a security system installed, whether you do or not, to put burglars off. Be especially careful around Christmas time when disposing of boxes, keeping presents under the tree, and posting on social media about the presents you received. Tactic: Thieves will generally only take small valuables that they can fit in a backpack, as they usually do their work on foot and want to appear inconspicuous.

Some of the most common stolen items include laptops, jewellery, and prescription medication. Advice: Keep a list of serial numbers of electrical items, and mark valuables with a UV pen so you can identify them if they are stolen.