Understanding Burglary
The FBI defines burglary as being the unlawful entry with intent to commit theft or a felony. Burglary does not need to include forcible entry – it just consists of the entrance into an area someone is not allowed in, with the intention of taking someone else’s property. This is different from robbery, which is defined as the theft of property or cash with a threat of violence. Burglary can be thought of in many categories including unlawful entry, attempted forced entry, and forced entry. Forced entry and unlawful entry are considered completed burglary, while attempted forced entry can be considered an attempted but failed burglary. The FBI reported records of 1,729,806 burglaries in the United States, making up over 20 percent of the year’s property crimes.
Common Burglary Times and Details
Burglaries most often happen during the day, with 2/3ds of burglaries happening during daylight. The most common times for burglary are between 10am and 2pm, most commonly between July and August when many people are on vacation. February is the month with the least common amount of burglaries. Most burglars are under the age of 25 and are amateurs, with over 50% of them being white. Drug addiction is the most common motivation for burglaries. 80 percent of burglars enter through the front door, first floor window, or back door. The master bedroom is usually the first room that gets targeted, with the home office being the second most commonly targeted area. Money is the most commonly stolen item, next to jewelry. Make sure to enlist a talented security company to help protect your home or business.
DIY Burglar-Proofing Tips
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Always keep the buses in front of your home or apartment trimmed to reduce the amount of places a burglar could hide. Keeping a well manicured yard tells burglars that you’re paying attention to your property.
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If you’re going to be out of town, make sure to temporarily discontinue your mail. If there’s a pile of undelivered mail or newspapers in front of your home, it broadcasts the fact that you’re not home and advertises your property to burglars.
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Install deadbolts on the entry doors of your home. These are an extra layer of security that go on top of standard home locks.
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Ask your neighbors for help checking up on your property when you’re gone, just to make sure that everything is alright.
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Make sure to store your valuables in falsely labeled containers in the cabinet, wrapped up in foil like leftovers in the freezer, or in mislabeled old boxes in your garage to decrease the likelihood of the burglar finding any of your possessions.
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Check your alarm system to make sure it’s working right, and test it regularly. The presence of a security alarm system, which can be advertised by signs, can scare many burglars off from potentially attempting home break ins.
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Make sure to always lock your doors and windows – the majority of burglaries only last 8 to 12 minutes, and unlocked doors make a burglar’s job much easier.
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Take out anything that a burglar could use to break into your home from your front yard or the vicinity of your home – including ladders or toolboxes.
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Install outdoor lighting fit with timers or motion sensors. This makes your home more visible to passersby and makes it harder for burglars to attempt burglary without being caught. Lights triggered by motion detectors can surprise and scare off burglars, decreasing the chances of a breakin.
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Be very aware of who has keys to your home and only give spare keys to close friends or family members, rather than leaving one under your doormat or an obviously placed rock in front of your house.
