12 things burglars don’t want you to know

A recent Neighbourhood Watch survey from 2023 revealed that 536 respondents had experienced a break-in over the past 12 months. As you can imagine, the thought of someone breaking into your home can be an incredibly frightening experience, and many people don’t know what to do if their house is broken into. However, there are ways that you can help secure your property and try to prevent it from happening.

Burglars are criminals, but if we try to get ourselves into their minds and understand a burglar’s techniques, we can start to think about ways our homes might be vulnerable - and turn these thoughts into proactive actions to protect our homes and families. Keep reading as we discuss 12 things burglars wouldn’t want you to know, and important home security tips to keep your home and family secure.

Security measures that put burglars off 

1. Alarm Systems

Burglars hate alarm systems - and for very good reason! Any indication that your home has a security system, such as yard signs, window stickers and a big alarm box, can act as a burglar deterrent and help prevent your home from being burgled. This is because potential burglars will be able to see that your home is protected, and so won’t want to risk getting caught. 

However, you shouldn’t fall into the trap of thinking that dummy alarm boxes will do the trick, as burglars can recognise the difference between real and faux alarm systems. Furthermore, if your home is entered, how would you know when you have a fake system? 

Set your home up with a house alarm (and maybe even an additional alarm), linked to a wider home security system including a key fob and motion detectors, to put burglars off entering your home and keep it protected. Furthermore, investing in a 24/7 professional monitoring service, linked to your home security system, can put your mind at ease that, even if you’re away from home, both your property and your system are monitored and protected. 

2. Security cameras

CCTV cameras can also deter burglars from attempting to enter your home. However, they can also help you in identifying any suspicious characters who may be lurking about (and potentially scoping out your home). No potential criminal wants to get caught on camera, so CCTV systems can help keep them away. 

Once again, though, we recommend avoiding dummy cameras and investing in real, functional ones around all entry points of your property. This could include outdoor wireless cameras and a video doorbell camera. For extra security, why not also set up an indoor camera, for use when you’re out the house or at night - all linked up to a 24/7 professional monitoring service?

3. Barking dog

Whilst a yappy dog can be quite annoying, especially if you have a lot of deliveries or people passing by your windows, did you know that your family pet can act as a burglar deterrent? A barking dog, even as small as a chihuahua, can identify an unexpected intruder from metres away - and let both you and them know they’ve been caught. 

Now we don’t recommend just getting a dog for security purposes, as dogs are a lot of effort, money, time and love. So if you don’t have a dog, you can instead pretend by putting up ‘beware of the dog’ signs, or even keep a looped recording of a barking dog on, when you’re out the house, to help deter burglars from dropping by. 

4. A secure garden 

Spikes, thorns and electric fences are a great way to secure your garden and prevent potential burglars from climbing your walls. Burglars won’t want to get hurt when attempting a break-in, for fear of cutting themselves or leaving clothes or DNA behind. Keep warning signs up identifying your security measures, and hopefully they’ll read them and leave.

If these aren’t an option, you could instead try deterrent paint, which covers the intruder - making them easily recognisable to the authorities. Having signs up warning that you have deterrent paint can also immediately put potential burglars off and send them elsewhere. 

Furthermore, a fact we all know is burglars don’t want attention drawn to them. Having gravel around the perimeter of your home is a great way to deter burglars, as there is practically no way to avoid the crunching sound of walking on stones. 

Common tactics that burglars use

5. Access points

If you were to get home and you didn’t have your keys, what would you do? Most people would first check if they left any doors unlocked, and then they would try windows. In a worst-case scenario, you may even have to break a window to gain access to your home. This is how burglars could try and get into your home too. Sliding glass doors are often the most vulnerable to break-ins. 

Protecting your entry points is paramount to securing your home. Make sure that all your doors and windows are always in the best condition, and prioritise fixing them if not. Before heading out or going to bed, be sure to shut and local access points - and for enhanced security, set entry sensors and glassbreak sensors on them too. 

6. Teamwork

Did you know that burglars often work in teams? Think of the iconic pair of burglars from the ‘Home Alone’ films. It’s not an uncommon tactic for someone to ring your doorbell and distract you, whilst another person goes around the back stealing your valuables. Even in late-night break-ins, working in teams allows the burglars to be in and out of your home quicker, and less likely to be caught. 

Never feel pressure to answer your door to anyone you don’t know. Installing a video doorbell can help you see who’s at your door, and allow you to talk to them without physically answering the door. Wider CCTV and security systems will help you keep your home protected, 24/7. 

Signs of vulnerability burglars are looking for 

7. Obvious absence

If your home looks like nobody is in, burglars could see this as an invitation to break into your home. Whether you’re on holiday or out for the day with the family, small signs like uncollected deliveries on your doorstep, overgrown grass and lights constantly off can give burglars the green light to try and enter. 

When you’re away from home, why not ask a neighbour to check in, collect your mail and even keep on top of your garden? You can always set extra pins on your home security keypad, so that you can let a trusted neighbour in - without giving away your usual alarm password. Furthermore, setting your home’s lights to be on timers, or leaving on a radio in the background, can also give the impression that someone is home. 

8. Social media oversharing

Do you really know who’s watching your social media posts? Unless you’ve got a private account and vetted every single person who follows you, then the answer is that you don’t - these could be social media posts that help burglars break into your home. 

Oversharing your life, location and future plans on social media could be a way to let potential burglars know when your home is unoccupied, as well as what your general routine is. Small snippets of your life, such as street pictures and geotagging your current location, can also share where you live or where you are, to these strangers. 

If you love to post your favourite memories and special moments online, we recommend completely privatising your social media accounts and waiting until you’re home before posting pictures.  

9. Lack of lighting

A dark home can be seen as an inviting home. Not only can dark spots give burglars somewhere to hide from CCTV and passersby, when trying to break into your home, but it can also be a sign that no one is in. However, by lighting up the exterior of your home, you can put a spotlight on potential burglars, or even deter them from even trying to enter. 

Motion-sensored lights are a great way to brighten up the outside of your home, without having lights on 24/7 (and racking up your electricity bill), or porch lights on a specific timer - but still providing your home with security and deterring burglars. Furthermore, did you know that many outdoor CCTV cameras also come with night vision? Keeping signs up around your home, warning potential intruders that you have motion-detected lights and outdoor CCTV, can also act as a further burglar deterrent. 

Personal habits you need to change

10. Routine 

Your personal routine could be putting your home’s security at risk. Oftentimes, burglars scope out a home before attempting to burgle it - hoping it will prevent them from getting caught. However, if you have a very predictable routine, such as the time you leave the house or the route you walk the dog on everyday, then your home could be more at risk. 

When possible, you should try to vary your routine as much as you can. Whether that's going out at different times, working varied night shifts or having trusted friends and family popping by throughout the day. However, if that’s not possible, keeping lights or a radio on can help make your home look occupied - even when it isn’t. Professional monitoring can also help you keep an eye on your home, when you’re not in or can’t access your home security app. 

If your routine suddenly changes, we suggest investing in a panic button. This button ensures that you can sound the alarm (silently or aloud), should you worry that someone has broken into your home whilst you’re in. 

11. Hiding spots

Keeping your valuables in obvious places helps us find them, when we need them. However, obvious hiding places are often the first place a burglar would look if they were to break into your home. Places like under the mattress, hidden in the sock drawer, and on top of the wardrobe are often the first place they would look. 

The best ways to hide your valuables is to use less obvious places, such as hidden compartments in drawers and disguised stash boxes, or by investing in a safe which is securely bolted down. 

Make sure to have an itemised list of all your valuables, for insurance purposes. Should your home be unavoidably burgled, it's always best to have a current list of all your expensive or irreplaceable belongings, so that you can inform both the police and your insurance provider. 

12. Tidying up

Perhaps it's been a long day doing work in the garden, or you’ve been busy with the kids whilst they’re on their summer holidays, but tidying up after yourself is so important to keeping your home safe and secure. 

Leaving ladders outside, even if you think your garden is secure, could be providing a burglar with a way to access second-story windows (that are often left unlocked). Make sure you tidy away all garden tools and accessories, to prevent them from being stolen or be used to help an intruder break into your home. 

Furthermore, failing to correctly throw away labelled packages and letters can give intruders access to all your personal information - such as your name and address. Electronics boxes also can give them an insight into what valuables you own. Best practice is to shred any paper materials with your personal details on, or scribble the information out with a permanent marker. Electronics boxes should go straight to the tip, or be put away in a drawer or attic for the meantime. 

Ready to protect your home? Explore home security systems from SimpliSafe, or contact our helpful team for expert advice and tailored packages - perfect for your property.