You may be out grocery shopping or even unwinding during vacation, and news about a break-in pops up on your phone. Now, you can’t help but wonder if the same thing is happening in your house. Even if your security system is intact, you just never know.
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But there’s good news! Ex-burglars have revealed some tricks to prevent break-ins, and we are here to spill the beans!
Keep Things Under Wraps… At least for Sometime
We know you are excited to share cute photos of your vacation, and we can’t wait to see them, too. But… hear us out.
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Once upon a time, a man’s house got robbed while on vacation because the thieves knew he was away through his social media posts. So, keep your trip a secret on the socials till you get home. We’ll catch up on the fun later!
Keep Valuables in Unusual Places
Who could have thought being untidy could somehow have its perks? A man shared how his supposed friend robbed his house and cleaned all his safes and vaults. Thankfully, he couldn’t find the most valuable item because it was tucked in dirty clothes!
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Burglars often target the “obvious” areas. So, be a step ahead by hiding your valuables in unexpected spots.
Objects in Cars Are Closer to Thieves Than They Appear
Someone who used to break into cars mentioned that thieves always look for high-value possessions in vehicles! So, always keep valuables out of sight when they’re in your car.
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Hide them under foot mats, cover them with anything, but make sure to never leave them for thieves to see, especially if your car isn’t tinted.
Outsmart Thieves With Fake Possessions
A man said thieves left everything else and focused on a safe with faux valuables when they came to rob his house. They barely noticed the real deals, although they were out in the open.
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So, stock up your closets, safes, and other target areas with fake tempting items. Distract them from possessions that matter. Time to beat them at their own game!
Keep Burglars Guessing With Smart Lighting
Keeping the lights on even when you’re away confuses burglars about whether you’re home or not. So, invest in smart lighting and control it with your smartphone or a smart home assistant.
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You can customize the lighting systems to choose which rooms to turn on and when. They are also pretty affordable; you don’t have to break the bank to keep burglars at bay.
Nothing Ever Goes for Nothing
An individual narrated how he tricked a man into leaving his house with ball game tickets.
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He stole someone’s BBQ and left a note from a “neighbor” saying they borrowed it for a family event. Then, he left some ball game tickets to compensate the victim. We don’t blame this homeowner, but hey, always double-check on free, “weird” offers!
Teach Kids Safety Practices
Let kids have fun but tell them it’s not safe to leave the door open or welcome strangers.
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Burglars are very observant and may take advantage of children’s innocence. So, introduce some house rules that will keep the home safe. For example, you can add extra locks to the door and ask them not to open them without your permission.
Beware of Thieves, Sorry, Dogs
As an ex-burglar himself, a man narrated how a “beware of dogs” sign is sometimes all you need to scare burglars away. We understand why this works, though, no one wants to be bitten to pieces.
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So, even if you don’t actually have a dog, simply adding the sign at your gate may do the trick. Alarm systems can be tampered with, but a fierce dog? Not so easily!
Keep All Windows Locked
It’s so easy to forget the windows when leaving the home. We only care about the doors; after all, they are the main point of entrance. Shockingly, windows are easier entrances for thieves than you can imagine, especially if you stay on the first floor.
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Always remember to close the windows and lock them when you are away. This will make it harder for burglars to break into your house.
Even Textbooks Aren’t Safe
One really can’t put anything past these thieves. As the cost of education increases, so do textbooks and other learning materials. Yet, students constantly have their textbooks taken away from them by thieves!
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So, take the extra step by being more cautious with your learning materials. Don’t leave them in the car or forget them on your desk or wherever you go.
Use Electrical Outlets but With A Twist!
Fake electrical outlets have compartments to store valuables, including money, jewelry, and other precious items.
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If you want to avoid breaking the bank by creating a safe, fake outlets are a go-to. Plus, unlike safes, they aren’t thieves’ targets. So, if you ask us, they’re smart ways to leave them with nothing valuable to steal!
