The average burglar doesn't look like Brad Pitt, or plan a precision heist like George Clooney.
Slickly produced Hollywood entertainment like the popular film, Ocean's Eleven (and sequels Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen) would have you think that burglars are professional, highly organized, and go about their business with a sense of flair and daring.
But in reality, the average breaking and entering specialist is far less sophisticated in his approach and methods.
Case in point is the "knocking burglar." Last week, Gurnee police warned local residents about several recent break-ins involving a residential intruder who knocks on a door before attempting entry. When he doesn't get an answer, he forces open a door or a basement window to gain access. In at least two recent incidents, residents were alerted to his unauthorized presence in their homes and frightened the perpetrator, who immediately fled.
With rare exception, burglars are opportunists, not planners. They can instantly size up a potential target while driving through a neighborhood and will make a quick decision whether a home offers favorable conditions for a break-in. When they visit a house with the intention of making entry, avoiding detection - or worse, a confrontation with a resident - is a primary consideration. Walking up to the front door and knocking or ringing the bell doesn't arouse the suspicion of any onlookers, and reveals if the house is empty.
From there, the homebreaker will try to open the door in the hopes it isn't locked, which is relatively common. If it has been locked, a quick shoulder or kick will usually splinter the frame and the door will give way.
If the front door is sturdy and resists an entry attempt, the burglar will try a back or side door, particularly a sliding door. Back and side doors are often less robust and secure than the front door, or sometimes feature small glass windows (lites) that can be broken, allowing an intruder to reach in and unlock the door. If that fails, the next option is making entry by a window, although burglars will rarely break large panes of glass, due to the risk of detection created by the noise.
If the would-be intruder cannot make entry within 2 - 3 minutes, more often than not they will move on to an easier target. Spending more time or exerting more effort increases the risk of being caught, and there are many other easier targets to choose.
The thought of someone entering your home without permission is disturbing. But any homeowner can take simple steps to protect themselves from the risk of burglary or home invasion.
Identification
Identifying household security risks and developing a plan to address them is the first step in any home security makeover. A comprehensive home safety and security review, conducted by a trained security professional, will reveal weaknesses in your home security perimeter that should be corrected. The author is a state-licensed security professional and offers free home safety and security assessments throughout Chicagoland; contact George White at george.white@gmail.com for details.
Prevention
Making your home a less inviting target is the best way to get would-be intruders to pass you by. Most residential burglaries occur during daytime hours when occupants are likely to be away. Make your home appear to be occupied at all times by leaving a radio playing inside your home while you are gone, and put lights on timers to turn them on and off at appropriate times. Don't ever allow newspapers or mail to accumulate outside your home. Keep shrubbery or trees near windows and doors well trimmed to deny burglars a hiding place while they work to enter. Posting a "beware of dog" sign on a fence or pole can also make a homebreaker think twice about trying their luck.
Resistance
It is not possible to make your home burglar-proof, but you can make it much harder for an intruder to enter. Exterior doors should be solid wood, fiberglass, or metal, with 3" screws securing the lock strike plates and hinges. Weak or damaged doors and frames should be repaired, replaced, and/or equipped with reinforcement plates. Quality deadbolts should be installed and used consistently by all members of the household, when at home or when departing. Sliding doors can be protected with the addition of a door bar or other auxiliary locks that are widely available. Windows should also be securely locked. Many of these upgrades can be performed by moderate to advanced DIY enthusiasts, or consult a licensed and bonded locksmith for assistance.
Detection
A professionally installed and monitored home security system can detect unauthorized entry and notify law enforcement authorities that assistance is required. A security system is the best protection available against intrusion. If someone does attempt entry, the loud siren will usually drive the intruder off, and it notifies occupants to take appropriate action. Only a monitored alarm system can give you the peace of mind of knowing that first responders will be summoned automatically when needed, whether you are at home or away. And as an additional benefit, a monitored security system can protect you, your family, and your valuables against fire, carbon monoxide, and other dangers.
There are only two times that people think about their home security: before a break-in, or after. Don't wait until it's too late to prevent a frightening and costly burglary or home invasion.
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