Four Tips From Ex-Burglars On How To Protect Your Home And Belongings

Four Tips From Ex-Burglars On How To Protect Your Home And Belongings

Nobody knows what deters burglars more than burglars. Here’s what former thieves recommend you do to safeguard your home from break-ins.

Photo by Anne Jacko.

Kyle Iboshi, investigative reporter at KGW News in Portland, Oregon, surveyed 86 inmates currently serving time for burglary about how they broke in and what homeowners can do to deter other burglars. It came down to four big deterrents anyone can do:

  1. Keep your property visible with good lighting, and keep your bushes and trees trimmed.
  2. Always leave a TV or radio on when you leave, and keep at least one light on. This was one of the most commonly mentioned deterrents in the survey.
  3. Keep an extra car visible in the driveway if possible. Almost every ex-burglar surveyed said that seeing a car in the driveway kept them away.
  4. Get to know your neighbours so they can report any suspicious activity to you.

Other tips include getting a dog — a big one, not a small one — posting a security system sign (which doesn’t always work), and getting a visible security camera. You can get more great tips at the link below.

We asked 86 burglars how they broke into homes [KGW Portland]


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