Consider investing in a security camera
“Get a camera and make it visible”, advises one of the burglars in the KGW survey. Of 57 convicted burglars surveyed by another US TV station, NBC 4 New York, 37 per cent said they’d be inclined to avoid breaking into a house with a visible security camera positioned near a door.
Get an alarm system
Not surprisingly, the sound of a home alarm system going off will quickly deter most burglars, KGW found. However, some burglars said they follow a fast and efficient routine that allows them to get in and out in less than five minutes, giving them time to get away before police can respond.
Hide your valuables where burglars won’t look
A determined burglar will search everywhere for valuables, including the stove, the freezer, the toilet tank and even boxes of cereal. However, most of the burglars surveyed by KGW reported heading to the master bedroom first before going through the rest of the house. Their second favourite room to search for valuables was the living room. Storing valuables elsewhere can help make a burglar’s job that much more difficult.
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