Is it easy to think like a criminal? No, it isn’t. Most of them are lunatics or people with serious psychological complications. It is near impossible to find any logic in their actions. But, if you can come even remotely close to thinking like one, then chances are that you will be able to do a much better job at protecting your home, family and assets than most. Let’s not try to think like the most dangerous people you might have seen on ‘America’s most wanted’. Try and think like the ordinary burglar walking down the street instead. What will he think when he looks at your home? Does it give the impression of a sitting duck? Which are the potential entry and exit points that he might use? How easy is it to enter the home? Get the gist? So are you all set to turn into a burglar to prevent being burgled by one?
Conduct a recee: A recee stands for reconnaissance. It’s like a survey. Get a notebook and a pen and take a walk down the street. Now closely examine your home from the street.
- Is there shrubbery growing in front of the home? For you it might be a wonderful aesthetic addition. But for a burglar, it is an ideal place to sneak into before making a break-in. Jot it down in the notebook. That’s a place that you have to think about.
- Make a note of all the windows that do not have any security locks. These are easy entry points for a burglar. Glass doors are other easy entry points. A glass break detector was an ideal solution to stop such break-ins. But nowadays, no criminal will break the glass. There are glass cutters available for less than $10 and it makes the job even easier.
- If you haven’t put up security signs and decals then this is the best time to do it. Look for ideal locations for the signs and decals. They should be easily visible from the street. Now walk a little closer to your home. Stand near the driveway.
- You can identify spots that can be used to install outdoor lighting for your home. Outdoor lighting is an intrinsic part of security. For this one time, do not think about the savings that you are making on your energy bills.
- Is the garage door locked at all times? Does it have an electronic alarm door? If yes, then it’s probably safe. If no, then does it have tools in it? These are additional tools for the burglar which he can very well use to pry your door open.
Solutions
Now that you have successfully conducted the recee, it’s time to act on the information.
- Just because there hasn’t been a case of burglary in your neighborhood for a long time doesn’t mean that your house cannot be targeted. In fact, such neighborhoods are ideal places for new burglaries because the security system is usually lax.
- Do you support the NRA? Show it. For a burglar it means that there are good chances of being shot at. And no burglar would want that.
- Ensure that you also cover the backside of the home. Several homeowners have been found guilty of completely avoiding the backside of the home and burglars make an easy entry.
- The trick is to create an impression that the home is hard target and not an easy one. And this impression can make a huge difference to the reputation of your home in the neighborhood.
Be smart and be innovative. It won’t take a lot of time or involve a lot of work. But the results can be rewarding.
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