Burglar Reveals 15 Trade Secrets – A Look Into The Mind of a Burglar

Burglar Reveals 15 Trade Secrets – A Look Into The Mind of a Burglar | Modern Survival Online February 25, 2012 The Grey Enigma

Hello, my name is Bob and I’m your local neighborhood burglar! First I’m going to tell you what I look for before breaking into your home, and then I’m going to tell you how I can break into your home.  I’ll even tell you what I’m doing and looking for inside your home.

A lot of people ask me why I do what I do, and why I haven’t been caught yet.  Do you know what I tell them?  Because people don’t realize how easy they make it for me.  I shouldn’t be doing this but I need a challenge!  Here’s what I’m looking for to make your house my next target: Before picking a house I have to scope the whole neighborhood. To do this I’m not going to be walking in the traditional cat burglar uniform. I’m going to be walking around with a rake, dressed up as the cable, electric, or phone repairman.  In some cases I even post a flier on your door for a closer look.  Usually my work hours are from 8AM-11AM.  I want to avoid any kind of confrontation.High privacy fences – This way your pesky neighbors can’t sneak up on me or call the police.  Any sort of high vegetation, like trees or shrubbery, covering your windows – this way they can’t see me break your window.

I prefer lots of cover:

*Toys or playground equipment in your yard – Toys or playground equipment in your yard are signs that kids live there, which to me equals a mother lives there and “cha-ching” that means JEWELRY.
•I’ll post a flyer on your door to get a closer look of your home. I’m also checking to see if you have a burglar alarm.

Here’s how I break into your home:
•I’ll knock on your door to see if anyone is home. If someone answers the door I’ll just come up with some bogus story.
•I’m going to check if the front or back door is unlocked. Sometimes people usually hide a key somewhere easy to access. If I can’t find a key I will check the windows. If worse comes to worse I’ll just smash a window.
•I can also get into a home through your doors using my trusty crowbar.
•If I can’t make it into your house in one minute I just move onto the next one.

Now here’s what I’m doing once I’m inside your home:
•I always use the same search pattern. I go straight to the master bedroom. I look for cash, jewelry, or anything that might be valuable. People often make the mistake of leaving money or jewelry in the most common areas.
•I’ll even look under the bed and in your closets.
•I’m always listening for outside noises. It’s a 6th sense.
•I check your bathroom medicine cabinets for any narcotic prescriptions. Pills are easy money.
•I’m going to check your kitchen and living room for electronics, credit cards, car keys, and personal information.
•After I have gathered everything I need, I call my backup driver to meet me so we can load up all the goods in the car or van.
•Once I have loaded all the goods, my associate and I drive away to the next target. It’s a never ending cycle.

And that’s it folks.  It usually takes me about 8-12 minutes to get in and out of your home.  It’s as easy as that!

In closing, there are a lot of things that you can do to avoid someone like me.  A security system is a no brain-er.  If that’s not an option, leaving a TV or stereo on during the day usually helps someone like me avoid your home.  This usually indicates someone is home.  Also most burglars won’t even attempt entry if they know there’s a large dog in the home.

So now you know my methods and secrets.  Hopefully this will help you avoid bad guys like me. If not, I’ll be lurking around.  So, once again, I’m Bob, your local Burglar, and I’ll be coming to a city near you!
via Burglar Reveals 15 Trade Secrets – A Look Into The Mind of a Burglar | Modern Survival Online.

Lint in Dryer Vents Cause Fires

According to FEMA and estimated 2,900 dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries and $35 million in property loss.  This can be prevented by:

Cleaning the lint filter before and after each cycle.

Clean the back of the dryer where lint can build up.

Clean the lint filter with a nylon brush at least every 6 months or more frequently if it becomes clogged.

Inspect the venting system behind the dryer to ensure it is not damaged, crushed, or restricted.

You should never go to sleep or leave your home while the dryer is running.

Having working fire alarms in your home can help alert your family in case a dryer fire does occur.  At Bates Security we can put in a monitored fire system so that in the event of a fire, the fire department is alerted.  This is especially helpful if you are unable to call yourself or are not home to call.

Watch this video to learn more about protecting your family from dryer fires.

10 Tips to Prevent Home Invasions

There have been a lot of home invasions in the news recently.  These are some of the most frightening crimes because they target where you should feel the most safe, your home.  A home invasion is when multiple perpetrators force entry into an occupied home to commit a robbery or other crimes. We’ve gathered some of our favorite tips to help protect you and your family from this type of crime.

1.  Don’t open your door to strangers or solicitors.  Most home invaders knock on the front door to gain entry.  They pose as someone in distress, a person asking for directions, workers, delivery persons, or they may be offering to do work for you.

2.  Lock your windows and doors and keep your garage door closed even when your home.

3.  Install solid core doors, heavy duty locks, and window security devices.

4. Check to see who is at your door before opening it by using a peephole, intercom system, or nearby window.

5. Use your front porch light to help you see outside.

6. Don’t rely on chains to keep intruders out, they don’t.

7. If you have an alarm system, use the occupied mode while you are home.  If someone attempts to gain entry, the alarm will sound and get help to you.

8. Have an escape plan.  Train your family on where to go and what to say.  If someone can escape, the invaders will have lost their advantage of privacy and time.

9. Consider owning a dog for protection. If this isn’t possible, an empty dog bowl left on the porch gives the impression that there is a dog on the premises.

10. If you live alone, place men’s boots or other clothing laying around or yell “I’ll get it” when answering the door to make it seem like your not alone.

 Sources:

Pennsylvania State Police. 9/9/12. Home Invasions. Retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/…/psp_preventing_home_invasions_pamphlet

Huntsville Police Dept. 9/9/12. Home Invasion Safety tips. Retrieved from http://www.hsvpolice.com/home_invasion_safety.htm

South Brunswick Police Dept. 9/6/12.  Reducing the Risks in a Home Invasion Robbery. Retrieved from http://www.twp.south-brunswick.nj.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B40116E30-5118-45CD-B688-EBEAFA36E03C%7D&DE=%7B57D44B4F-5B29-43C4-B38E-8FCC4102DD18%7D

Chief James T. Hurley. 9/6/12. Violent Crime Hits Home: Home Invasion Robbery. Retrieved from http://www.fbfl.us/index.aspx?NID=153

Image from 2012 Honeywell International Inc.