13 things your burglar won't tell you

[stomachmonkey]

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it..

5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house.. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom - and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door - understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)
10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.

12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it athttp://www.faketv/.com/)

8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.

4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.

8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.
Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs Crime Doctor, Security Expert Advice for Home, Family, Business, Chris McGoey, Security Consultant, Security Expert Witness and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.

Protection for you and your home:
If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone's evil plans for you.

WASP SPRAY

A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.

The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection.. Thought this was interesting and might be of use.

FROM ANOTHER SOURCE:

On the heels of a break-in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self-defense experts have a tip that could save your life.

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.
Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."
Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades. It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray.

"That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out." Maybe even save a life.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night.
Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr.'s office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

[RWebb]

my best defense has always been to live in a house that looks like there couldn't possibly be anything worth stealing in it

[Rick Lee]

A few things I won't tell a burglar:

I never answer my door for unexpected company, but I am almost always home and always well-armed and ready.

I am almost never gone for as long as it would take you pry my safe out of the foundation, remove a few doors and wheel it out of my house.

I will never use a silly yard sign to advertise what brand security system I have.

I don't lock my fence gate, but you can't get around my garbage and recycling bins without making a lot of noise.

My 993 won't start without that DME relay in my safe.

My nextdoor neighbor works from home too and we look out for each other.

AZ is a Castle Doctrine state.

Nothing in this house is worth your life.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

My 993 won't start without that DME relay in my safe.

Note to self: Next time passing through Cave Creek, bring spare 993 DME relay...

EDIT: Also wear reflective motorcycle suit to fool neighbor...

[gtc]

My car is in the driveway, unlocked and disarmed. Come get it. (I want that 996TT).

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

A few things I won't tell a burglar: Actually, you just did....

I never answer my door for unexpected company, but I am almost always home and always well-armed and ready.

Thanks for the info, that's good to know, I'll take my time to see what's the best way to get in, and I'll come prepared to shoot first.

I am almost never gone for as long as it would take you pry my safe out of the foundation, remove a few doors and wheel it out of my house.

You don't need to be gone, as long as you're immobilised or dead. I'll have all the time I need, heck I'll put one my Brinks uniform for when I wheel your safe outside. Important thing is I know you have a safe that is worth protecting. I'll bet you'll give the combination when I threaten to harm your loved ones...

I will never use a silly yard sign to advertise what brand security system I have.

Now I know you have a security system, maybe it would have been better to leave me in the dark about this.

I don't lock my fence gate, but you can't get around my garbage and recycling bins without making a lot of noise.

Now that I know that is a noisy entry point, I'll adapt my strategy, thanks for the info.


My 993 won't start without that DME relay in my safe.

993 DME relays are easy to come by, so I'll bring my own. Thanks for the info.

My nextdoor neighbor works from home too and we look out for each other.

My Brinks uniform will not raise his suspision.

AZ is a Castle Doctrine state.

Nothing in this house is worth your life.

I'm a lowlife scum, my life is worth nothing anyway, I'll risk jailtime or injury and even my life for a lot less than you think...

J/K of course, just wanted to show that you don't need to post your holidays plans on FB. You can give out a lot of info on this site too....

[URY914]

Take my wife....................please.

[Arizona 911]

Here is another tip. That big bad ass shepard, doberman, rotweiler, etc... is not a deterrent when they are sprayed with oven cleaner.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Arizona 911

Here is another tip. That big bad ass shepard, doberman, rotweiler, etc... is not a deterrent when they are sprayed with oven cleaner.

That sounds horrible...

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

That sounds horrible...

Wait until you hear the dog....

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

Wait until you hear the dog....

HAHA

Trying way too hard to contain laughter at the office...

[Rikao4]

mine mind very well..
they go when I tell them 'fass'
no kids..so if you harm mine...
all bets of..
I can & will be cruel...
like gut shot..spray your guts...have a smoke..
check your pulse..nuthin
then call the cops...

Rika

[john70t]

Nice NRA sticker. It's Christmas, ain't it?

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

On the heels of a break-in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self-defense experts have a tip that could save your life.

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.
Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."
Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades. It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray.

"That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out." Maybe even save a life.

I wonder where they got their information about pepper spray. There are several different delivery systems. Some are intended to fog an area while some fire streams that can easily shoot 25 feet. He is right about bug spray being cheaper, though I doubt that it is more effective.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I wonder where they got their information about pepper spray. There are several different delivery systems. Some are intended to fog an area while some fire streams that can easily shoot 25 feet. He is right about bug spray being cheaper, though I doubt that it is more effective.

If you are sprayed with something that will impair your eye sight -- be it pepper spray, wasp spray, hair spray, it will definately impede your ability to complete the project of ripping off the house. Wasp spray has the added benefit of smelling really bad in a chemically-sort-a-way -- would probably scare the theif into thinking he's been sprayed with Agent Organge or something...

-Z-man.

[Scuba Steve]

That, and it kills stuff and maybe gives someone an OMG going blind kind of fear if they realize what it is.

[vash]

i love the fake TV idea!!

i need to lock up my extra car keys. bad guys will use your own car to make the getaway. deadbolts should need a key on both sides. that way they cant use your door to carry out the TV.

thanks.

[aigel]

Come on, there isn't anything new in that blurb except for the wasp spray and that's obviously BS: snopes.com: Wasp Spray

Just move to a good neighborhood and use common sense. Makes the biggest difference IMHO. A good hood will give your kid a nice school to go to, decent friends and a house you'll be able to unload easily when it is time to move.

G

[vash]

let me add..i dont throw away high ticket item boxes at home. no gun boxes, TV boxes, etc into the streetside garbage..dumb.

i bring in my garbage can right away before i leave for work. i dont leave them out at the curb. pisses me off when the neighbors leave theirs in front of my home..screams, "nobody is home!"

i am gonna adopt a small yappie dog.

[RoninLB]