HOW BURGLARS WORK, BY BURGLARS

Almost a hundred inmates serving time for burglary were sent letters asking them to respond anonymously to 17 questions detailing how they broke into houses, when the crime occurred, and what they were looking for. Here is what they said:
– Most inmates broke in through an unlocked door or window. Several burglars kicked the door open. “I would kick in the door rather than break glass. Loud bangs are better than loud glass breaking, plus you run the risk of getting cut,” said one inmate.
– Once inside, what was the first thing you looked to steal? Jewelry, electronics, cash and credit cards, collectibles and guns. “NRA sticker on car bumper = Lots of guns to steal,” wrote one burglar.
– Where did you look for hidden valuables? Most burglars started by searching the master bedroom for valuables, then moved through the rest of the house. “Everywhere! From the stove and freezer, to the fish tank and toilet tank, book shelves and in boxes of cereal,” said an inmate.
– Burglars prefer breaking in early morning or afternoon. “Between 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. Anyone that was home for lunch should be gone by then and most kids should all still be in school,” wrote a convicted burglar.
– Did home protection or security signs posted outside the home deter you? Burglars had mixed opinions about home security signs. Some burglars said it didn’t faze them. Others said they knew how to disable alarms or avoid setting them off.
– If a homeowner had a big, loud dog most burglars would stay away. Smaller dogs don’t seem to bother them.
– All of the inmates who responded said they would knock on the front door before breaking in.
– If someone was home, they would, “Act like I was lost or looking for a friend.” or “I would approach the resident as though they had posted an ad on Craigslist.” or “Say wrong house, sorry and thank you.” or “Ask if they’d seen my dog and leave.” or “Sometimes I would wear nice clothing and print a questionnaire off the Internet and carry a clipboard and see if they could spare a moment for an anonymous survey.”
– If a home alarm system went off, most intruders said they would leave immediately if a security alarm went off. “I would try and turn it off or get the hell out of there,” said one burglar.
– Generally, burglars agreed security cameras were a deterrent. But some said it also likely signaled there were valuables inside the home.
– Responses were mixed regarding lights on in a home. Some said it was a deterrent. But one burglar said the combination of lights on and blinds closed created an attractive location. “Would drive through upper class neighborhoods looking for many things, like porch light on with all window blinds closed,” wrote one inmate.
– Most burglars feared someone might be home if they heard a radio or TV. They wouldn’t break in.
– Almost all of the burglars said they’d think twice if there was a car in the driveway. “Most of the time that is a sure-fire sign of someone being home,” wrote an inmate.
– Burglars don’t want to be seen. They looked for homes with big fences and overgrown trees or bushes. “Home away from other homes, blind spots, older window frames, cheap wooden doors,” wrote a burglar. “Large trees, bushes or shrubs around the home, or very reserved and conservative neighbors,” wrote another inmate.
– What is the one thing homeowners can do to avoid being burglarized? Burglars suggest homeowners make their property visible with good lighting and trimmed bushes and trees. You should get to know your neighbors and alert police if you see anything suspicious.
* It really sounds like there’s a school for burglars somewhere that teaches them all this stuff.
* Oh, yeah – it’s called prison.
* The takeaway here: You want a sound- and motion-activated mp3 player with the sound of a big dog barking coming out of big speakers.
* And buy a junk car for $200 to keep in your driveway.
* This is great and all, but what AREN’T they telling us, so they can rob our houses when they get out of jail?