Former Burglars Offer Guidance On How To Keep Valuables Secure And Hidden
It’s terrifying to have your home broken into by a thief. But it does occur. Being robbery resistant is a terrible belief to hold, and we have some advice from professionals. Yes, having a secure lock system for your doors and windows as well as securing your possessions is vital. However, there are additional proactive methods you may be wise and prevent a break-in at home. Because thieves are also people, some ex-burglars have recently revealed some of their theft techniques on Reddit. Yes, you read it correctly; these are legitimate pieces of advice from former burglars. Sounds like false information, no? Then read the list below to find out, straight from the source, what you can do to make your home safer.
Beware of Strangers
Many residences have “beware of the dog” signs posted on their gates and fences. Now is the right moment to begin making the “beware of strangers” sign more commonplace. Even though this might not be burglary advice, it is nevertheless a warning from a door-to-door salesman who saw an opportunity to rob. Due to his job, he was automatically trusted by others, who welcomed him without enquiring as to who he was. He entered with ease, like a welcomed guest. Allowing guests inside without demanding identification puts you at risk since they will be able to see all you own.
Find Another Place for Your Car Keys
There’s a universal place for keeping car keys in every home – next to the entrance! Well, it does make sense to keep the keys next to your door as you can easily take them off when you leave and hang them back upon your return. It’s pretty convenient.
Find Another Place for Your Car Keys
But on the flip side, it’s advantageous for burglars too. If a nefarious character bent on stealing from you happens to break in, the sight of keys will surely entice them to steal your vehicle, along with other treasures in your home.
Secure Your Jewelry Box
Jewelry box – the honey pot of burglary! Jewelry boxes are quite useful in storing your pearls, diamonds, and other valuable accessories organized. But they are also handy for enabling burglars to make easy money as they might just take the whole thing.
Secure Your Jewelry Box
You may store these boxes in your closet since it’s easy. But it’s even easier for burglars to access because they know that the closet is the common storage space for these items. Hence, as per the advice of an ex-burglar, you shouldn’t store your jewelry box in obvious places.
Light Up Your House
When you’re leaving your home, switching off lights is indeed energy-efficient but not robbery-resistant. There’s a higher probability of burglary in an empty house. You may be leaving, but you mustn’t let others take note of your leave. Keep some lights on and let them think you’re in the house.
Light Up Your House
Here’s some handy advice from a Reddit user, “LED lighting is cheap these days. Investing in one of those smart-lighting systems where you can set different rooms to turn on and off at different points in the day. (kitchen during dinner time, bedrooms at night, etc.).”
Kids, Don’t Answer the Door!
A Reddit user who was a door-to-door salesman shared his experience about kids under the age of 6 years freely answering the door without any guidance from their parents. Well, this is a good sign for burglars but not for your home.
Kids, Don’t Answer the Door!
Kids are innocent. When they hear a knock, they will allow anyone to enter the house. But as parents, it’s best to keep them away from answering the door, especially when you aren’t aware of who’s on the other side. Stay cautious and give the right advice to kids.
Remember Burglars Chase Braggers
Humans tend to show off and brag about their new and expensive purchases. But guess what? Your friends aren’t big fans of it, and as for burglars, you’re unwittingly informing them of all you have for them to steal. It’s only the thief’s fault, but we can be smart!
Remember Burglars Chase Braggers
Burglars use social media too. And a Reddit user has made it clearly known that burglars are always searching for new social media posts showcasing expensive items. Showing off your shopping spree might therefore lead to a stealing spree. Be safe!
Put Your Basement to Use
Past burglars have shared their regrets on Reddit about ignoring the basement or attic of a house, assuming that it was a mere storage space limited to old worn-out things. But, of course, their main targets are the big-ticket items. So, while robbing middle-class homes, they never checked the basement.
Put Your Basement to Use
So, if you have one of these spaces (or both), the secret has already been spoken – your basement is your savior! Use your attic or basement to hide your money and other valuables amongst your worn-out possessions, and burglars will walk past them.
The Freezer Trick is Out of Fashion
A Reddit user stated that freezers and cereal boxes are old-fashioned hiding spots. You may think it’s good to hide your valuables, but unfortunately, everyone knows about them. There’s no way burglars are walking away from your home without going through the freezer and cereal box.
The Freezer Trick is Out of Fashion
There are several hiding spots you may think to be effective. But the chances are that if you’ve been acquainted with it for a long time, burglars probably are too. This calls for more innovative hiding spots so that you can thwart the would-be robbers.
Make Your Lawn Look Well-Maintained
Remember the above-said hack about leaving your house lights on? Well, mowing your lawn is another way to trick burglars into thinking that your house is currently occupied. Mowing will make the burglar think that someone stays permanently in the house and regularly maintains the yard.
Make Your Lawn Look Well-Maintained
A Reddit user made it clear that when a lawn is mowed regularly, it leads the burglar to believe that the house isn’t vacant. Many will walk away with this assumption to find a new target. Most burglars would prefer not to run into the homeowners.
Freak Out the Burglars
Here’s a little trick to freak out those burglars intending to rob your home. First, glue a key under the flower pot or the doormat. Then, install a security camera to record their actions and reactions to getting caught red-handed.
Freak Out the Burglars
If you doubt this trick, hear out this Reddit user who states, “A few years ago, I did this in addition to installing cameras. Over the last couple of years, I’ve seen this exact scenario play out: Thief walks to the door, checks under the mat, unsuccessfully tries to grab the key, backs up, looks around to see if anyone is watching… and LEAVES. They don’t even search for another key because it spooks them.”
Confuse the Burglars
Safes are a secure storage space but are they really when they are the first place a burglar always targets? Burglars assume that all valuables are stored in the safe. Thus, they may leave everything else and walk away with the entire thing.
Confuse the Burglars
So, a Reddit user tried a little trick of hiding their expensive watches and other items in places other than their safety. Guess what happened next? The burglar walked away only with the safe without searching anywhere else. In other words, they walked away with nothing.
Mount Your TV
Having your television getting stolen is absurd, right? After all, who would make such efforts to lift the heavy electronic device and run away with it? In this regard, you should know that stealing your TV is not difficult if you’ve placed it on a stand.
Mount Your TV
So, instead of placing your television on a lavish stand, hang it on the wall. It will save your TV from getting stolen. In these scenarios, the burglar will require more time to unmount the TV and find it better to run away without stealing it.
Never Leave Your Purse Unattended
A Reddit user shared that his burglar friends always looked for women who carried purses. They waited for a chance when those women would leave their bags unattended. And once they get the opportunity, they would ride their bikes speedily, snatch the purse, and run away.
Never Leave Your Purse Unattended
Now, purses contain many essential things, and carrying them everywhere you go is necessary. But never leave them unattended, or else a similar situation as that stated above may happen to you, too. Bear in mind that when purses get stolen, a lot gets stolen with them.
Do Some Creative Thinking to Innovate DIY Hiding Places
Before we say what the hint is, look at what this Reddit user has to say, “I’ve seen people make false outlets for hiding valuables like cash and jewelry. Just an idea; a burglar would have to be at your home for a long time to start checking outlets.”
Do Some Creative Thinking to Innovate DIY Hiding Places
If you’ve been browsing the internet for creative hiding ideas, burglars are already aware of it! Get creative because a burglar can read what’s on the internet but not what’s on your mind. And this false switchboard is just an example of a creative DIY hiding spot that burglars would barely look at.
Don’t Use Nightstands as Storage Spaces
It’s common for everyone to keep their valuables on the nightstand. Whether it is a good book one is engrossed in or a fragrant candle, nightstands are easy-to-access storage space. Unfortunately, it is just as easy for burglars to access that spot.
Don’t Use Nightstands as Storage Spaces
A Reddit user whose home was burglarized received a piece of advice from the police, “Never leave valuables in your nightstand.” They are highly visible, and there’s no way thieves will walk away without going through what you have stored there.
Get Sneakier With Your Spare Keys
Keys are one of the essential items you must always carry with you. But they are also an item that gets easily misplaced. So, to avoid breaking in the lock every time, most people slip in the spare key under the doormat. But is it really safe?
Get Sneakier With Your Spare Keys
No! Burglars are already well-aware of this age-old trick. So, keeping your spare keys under the mat or pot near your door is not at all a tactic unique to you. Try to come up with sneakier places or keep your extra copies at your (trusted) neighbor’s home.
Seek Others’ Opinions for Choosing Hiding Spots
A Reddit user received an excellent piece of advice from his uncle, a policeman. The suggestion was to ask a friend or family member to look for what you’ve hidden in a place you think is safe. If they find the hidden item, it’s not a great place to hide your possessions.
Seek Others’ Opinions for Choosing Hiding Spots
Thus, this experiment helps you determine if the spot you think is a good hiding space is a good one or not. Therefore, gather your friends and seek their opinions to find a better hiding place. Then do the same for them.
Make Burglary Time-Consuming
Time is precious, but every second counts when thieves do their job. If they can easily see valuables, it is effortless for them to steal. But, if you use a secure storage space with lock systems, this is when the clocks start ticking.
Make Burglary Time-Consuming
While stealing, burglars have limited time. They usually won’t be able to break through tough locks. They’d also prefer silence to prevent getting caught. But breaking locks is noisy. So, in this process, they would eventually stop trying on those secure storage spots and leave your home with nothing.
Back Away from Installing Sliding Glass Doors
Sliding glass doors are cool but before installing them in your house, hear us out! An ex-burglar on Reddit said, “If you have a sliding glass door, I can open it. Even with some of the security systems sold for sliding glass doors, I can open it.”
Back Away from Installing Sliding Glass Doors
This note coming straight from an ex-burglar should be enough to make you reconsider your decision of getting a fancy sliding door for your home, right? So, now that the truth is out in the open, you might look for safer options.
Break the Boxes
Burglars are regularly looking for bigger and better things to steal. So, when we throw out those big boxes on Christmas morning, we need to be careful. Thieves are patrolling the streets for the signs of a potentially “big haul.”
Break the Boxes
Here’s some sage advice from a Reddit user, “Don’t leave things out that people can see from outside your home or car. If you buy a new TV or computer, break down the box it came in. Don’t just leave it by your garbage can.”
Unlock Drawers
Keep your drawers unlocked – what insane advice, right? Well, before concluding, hear what an ex-burglar Reddit user has to say, “Oh, and thanks for locking drawers. That way, I only know exactly where the valuables are. I can open that cheap wood drawer as quickly with a crowbar as pulling it open.”
Unlock Drawers
When your drawers are not locked, burglars will assume that you have probably nothing valuable in there. And indeed, this would be an excellent way to trick them. Of course, we don’t suggest replacing a wall safe with an Ikea dresser.
Get a Surveillance Camera Immediately
Never underestimate the power of a good and effective surveillance camera. It is the handiest security system for your residence. Burglars not only aim to steal expensive things, but they also want to avoid getting caught. Cameras are your best bet at covering all your bases.
Get a Surveillance Camera Immediately
So, put a sign outside your house saying they are under CCTV surveillance, and they will be less likely to step close to your residence. Even if buying a real camera sounds out of your budget, use a fake one! After all, it’s all about frightening them and shooing them off.
Secure Your Shed
An ex-burglar suggested on Reddit that one should never leave their home’s shed unlocked. Your shed is handy for storing a wide array of tools, and ironically, it is convenient for burglars to use these same tools and break into your house.
Secure Your Shed
So, never make the mistake of keeping your shed unlocked. Instead, secure it and store your tools in a place where burglars won’t be able to access them easily. Secure your shed and garage just as you would your house to prevent those thieves from succeeding.
Hide Your Electronic Gadgets
Burglars love your treasured gadgets as much as you do. Look at that new gaming console you just brought. Cool, isn’t it? But do you know what’s uncool? Have your latest treasure get stolen from your living room coffee table.
Hide Your Electronic Gadgets
A Reddit user shared that his burglar friends would steal gaming consoles, speakers, and other electronic devices and sell them on Craigslist in a different location. So now that’s a way for burglars to make money but for you to lose yours.
Get a Bigger and Heavier Safe
We all think of our safe – with its custom combination – as the perfect place for valuables. However, when there’s a burglary, it’s the first thing that you see a burglar walking away with satisfaction. So, maybe it’s time to find a bigger and bulkier safe.
Get a Bigger and Heavier Safe
A Reddit user states, “Any safe that’s not bolted down and is small enough for 1-2 people to carry isn’t safe at all.” So, if you haven’t been planning to add a safe to your shopping list, perhaps it’s time to do so.
Safeguard Your Textbooks
Books are one thing that can be easily resold. So, if you assume that burglars are probably not bookworms, they don’t have to be. At the end of the day, they aim to resell the stolen goods and make money.
Safeguard Your Textbooks
Now, if you are a student, books are mandatory. A Reddit user whose assigned texts were robbed suggests that you should never leave your textbooks unattended. Any student will tell you they are expensive. Your books being stolen will undoubtedly not have a fairy tale ending!
Hire a House-Sitter
A Reddit user states that burglars usually target the houses of deceased people. The time and date of funerals are made aware to everyone through social media and newspapers. Burglars break into homes while the funeral occurs and take away all belongings of the person who once graced this planet.
Hire a House-Sitter
Yes, it is heart-wrenching to think such people exist, but like death, at times, burglary may be inevitable. Therefore, hiring a reliable house-sitter to look after your house while you go to pay your respects would be a good idea.
Your Windows May Need a Renovation
Windows are often a burglar’s entry point. They can easily break through the glass, and if your window opens from the outside, well, that makes it easier on them. We often think the noise will deter them, but this is not a good assumption.
Your Windows May Need a Renovation
If you have recently moved into a new place, ensure that all the windows close properly. Add grills for extra security instead of using plain glass. Most importantly, do not install windows that can be opened from the outside.
Save Your Medicines
If you think your medicines are the last thing a burglar will steal, think again because this is what an ex-burglar had to say on Reddit, “The medicine cabinet or bathroom. I’ll just scoop the drugs out into a bag.”
Save Your Medicines
Medicine is essential for sound health, but burglars intend to make huge money for any prescription meds. So, don’t assume your drugs are safe in the cabinet. Instead, find a safer place to store the meds that can’t be easily replaced.
Small Lock Boxes are Not a Safe Spot in Disguise
Many people use small lockboxes, assuming they are well-disguised. But a Reddit user who was a burglar in the past said, “It’s great when you find one because they’re simple to open and if they don’t have a wall safe, then all their main valuables and money are usually in it… jackpot.”
Small Lock Boxes are Not a Safe Spot in Disguise
This user has made it evident that the lock safe you think is keeping all your valuables safe may not be the safest place to secure your prized possessions. So, do yourself a favor and get a wall safe instead.
Fool the Burglars
If there is anything better than catching a burglar, it is fooling them. So, a Reddit user’s cousin has a clever trick up her sleeves. She uses a cheap jewelry box to store fake jewelry items so that burglars can walk away with them.
Fool the Burglars
Burglars won’t even care to check other items in the house because, remember, jewelry is the best thing they can get their hands on. So, trick them with an attractive jewelry box and store some cheap pieces in it. This is enough to fool burglars.
Fire Safes Won’t Save You from Theft
A Reddit user pointed out, saying, “Fire safes are only safe from fires.” In other words, it does not save your valuables from being burglarized. This ex-burglar also shared that fire safes are one of their prime targets. Good to know!
Fire Safes Won’t Save You from Theft
Burglars understand that you store your precious items in a fire safe to protect them in case of a fire. However, it’s not thief-resistant. So, what can be the solution? Back to an earlier piece of advice: get the biggest, heaviest fireproof safe out there.
Steer Away from Common Hiding Locations
A Reddit user who was a burglar once upon a time expressed that every time he was on a stealing spree, he wanted to complete his robbery and be out of the house within 15 minutes. So, any spot that needed more than 1 minute to access was not worth it.
Steer Away from Common Hiding Locations
He further shared that he would look under the bed, empty the drawer, and check the freezer, cabinets, and other commonly used hiding spots. After all, they’re on limited time. So, with this, he has certainly given you some handy advice right there!
Use a Shatterproof Film
It is always recommended not to use sliding glass doors or windows without grills. But if you don’t like this idea and don’t want to compromise on your interior space’s aesthetic design, here’s a better suggestion for you – get a shatterproof film!
Use a Shatterproof Film
You can buy a shatter-resistant laminate for your glass windows and doors. This way, the burglars won’t be able to break the glasses even if they try to. What’s better is that the shatterproof film won’t even affect the appearance of your doors and windows.
Close and Lock Your Garage
A Reddit user shared that it’s pretty easy for burglars to tip-toe into a garage that’s been left open even for a few seconds at night. You may be working on your garage, but close the door if you plan to walk away for even a second.
Close and Lock Your Garage
Closing your garage doors at night is certainly a no-brainer. But some people have the habit of not caring about whether their garage is locked or not. We all get comfortable in our environments, but make sure to keep all outdoor entrances, including the basement and garage, locked.
Thorns Can Prevent Thefts
When designing your home’s layout, don’t just emphasize the appearance. Rather, focus on how you can design the landscape to offer more security to your home against thefts. Hence, a Reddit user suggested using thorny plants to keep burglars away.
Thorns Can Prevent Thefts
You can grow rose bushes or keep potted spiny plants like cacti around your home instead of tall, dense shrubberies that give burglars a comfortable place to hide. The sight of thorns is sure to keep thieves away because they wouldn’t want to steal at the cost of getting hurt.
Install an Alarm System
Alarm systems can be beneficial in keeping burglars at bay. They refrain from robbing houses with these handy gadgets because they know the consequences after the alarm starts ringing. This all sounds super basic and intuitive, of course.
Install an Alarm System
But many of us have not taken this step. So, installing an alarm system in your home is a good idea. Otherwise, you can simply use a fake sticker to trick them into thinking that your house has a security system.
Get a New Set of Keys
Did you just move into a new house, and your landlord handed you the keys? Well, your home may be new, but what about those locks? There’s a good chance that you’ve been given the same keys used by the previous tenants.
Get a New Set of Keys
Burglars always keep looking for opportunities, and you never know if they might possess some copies of those keys. So, do not use the same ones handed to you by the landlord for your new home. Instead, purchase a new set; it’s a safer option.
Keep That Mail Coming
Here is a little suggestion from a former burglar – keep the mail coming! Don’t stop it from coming even if you leave the house for a few days. It leads burglars to think that the home is not devoid of people.
Keep That Mail Coming
Well, you might want to return to a home that is neat and not filled with mail and newspapers. However, it’s worse to return to a home that’s been burglarized. Hence, don’t stop your mail. It might not keep dogs and cats away from your house, but it’ll undoubtedly keep burglars away.
Pet an Attention-Seeking Dog
No one can hate a cute little puppy. Owning a dog is a common suggestion that gets thrown around often when people talk about ways to avoid burglary. Well, the last thing a thief wants to do is to sneak into your house and be distracted by your overly friendly pet.
Pet an Attention-Seeking Dog
People pet big dogs to make trespassers stay away from their residences, but those cute little dogs that constantly seek cuddles are a great way to keep intruders away since they will never leave burglars alone. And that would certainly alert everyone in the house!