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13 Things a Burglar Won’t Tell You

Is it a crime to spend money on a home security system these days? A look inside the mind of convicted burglars will help you decide.

Interviews by Michelle Crouch from Reader's Digest | September 2009
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© 2009 Jupiterimages Corporation
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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

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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.

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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 at faketv.com.)

Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; 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.


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Your Comments

  • Steve

    FakeTV, I liked the idea so much I bought one for my house. Then, after seeing how well it worked, I bought some for my family as well.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1535946333 Karen Hitchcock

    My Dad is on an Alzheimers’ unit, & Mom’s gone most of the day, sitting, holding his hand. And although it’s a rural area, everyone still knows everyone’s business. I’m going to get her a fakeTV, and a fake alarm panel (just wire an LED to a 9 volt battery – it’ll last forever.)

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FGC2ANZA43O7MOXXD74YKZ2CYU TKramar

    Got tired of tossing out pizza flyers, so we taped one to the door.

    The problem a burglar would have here is that someone is almost always home. I work nights so I’m home during the day, and my room mate is here all night.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FGC2ANZA43O7MOXXD74YKZ2CYU TKramar

    Knock all you want, I’m not going to answer.

  • Shravani Kurapati

    Nice idea, but that won’t keep any robber from robbing your house, no?Think about it.

  • Shravani Kurapati

    Nice idea, but that won’t keep any robber from robbing your house, no?Think about it.

  • Shvraknidshan

    Hello! Did you snap out of it? Look TKramar if you don’t know who it is then how are you going to not answer it huh? What if it’s someone you rust or know? Think about it genuis.

  • Vaknessveer

    Wouldn’t it be so much better if you put it all in your bank locker instead of keeping it in your master bedroom. it’s much harder to break into the bank then your house, you know.

  • Ruger P95

    I find that my 7 motion detectors, my signs warning potential burglars about my camera monitoring system, and my automatic floodlights which go on and stay on every night are good deterrent.  None of them, however, are as good as my 9MM Ruger pistol which I carry with me everywhere I go INCLUDING inside my house.   Did I mention that it carries SIXTEEN rounds, and that I carry another 16 round clip with me?  I do not answer the door no matter who is knocking, and if they try to break in, they will meet Mr. Ruger.

    God made man, Sam Colt made them equal.

  • Robertbentham

    lol… whatta dillhole

  • Robertbentham

    lol… whatta dillhole

  • NotBornYesterday

    When someone comes to work inside my house they see my gigantic cane corsos viciously barking – guess they wont be back

  • Alarm

    What a bunch of idiots. A burglar is not going to break into your home when you are there. “Oh, mr. homeowner, I am going to break into your home on 2 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon. I am coming in the front door so make sure you are sitting on the stairway so you can blast my but as I come in.” If it’s a home invasion, then blast away…but no likely.
    Oh, don’t forget to let the burglar know to cut your phone and cable lines to cut off communication to the cs.

  • Alarm

    What a bunch of idiots. A burglar is not going to break into your home when you are there. “Oh, mr. homeowner, I am going to break into your home on 2 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon. I am coming in the front door so make sure you are sitting on the stairway so you can blast my but as I come in.” If it’s a home invasion, then blast away…but no likely.
    Oh, don’t forget to let the burglar know to cut your phone and cable lines to cut off communication to the cs.

  • Alarm

    I’ll poison your dog with a steak…Bark Bark no more. Lets not have a false sense of security…you may need more.

  • Colin

    badass, man. I’m not messing with you.

  • PlainTruth

    . . . tisk, tisk . . . just try poisoning my Glock 9mm . . .

  • Rainman

    Your Ruger pistol doesn’t use a clip, it uses a magazine. Clips load magazines, they are not the same.

  • Anonymous

    I have insurance.  I don’t worry. /shrug.

  • Becie

    Sorry, but there are plenty of cases where burglars have broken into homes that were occupied.  Successful stories were where the homeowner had a gun…

  • Wunsurfguy

    I will blow a hole through an intruder and then skull f+ck him/her. I am loaded for bear and will light you up, for sure, dude! Make my day..

  • PhotonX

    I know this is an older thread, but I just have to say…. Wow. In addition to being a second-class prick, this genuis can’t even spell genius, or.consider that the original poster might have CCTV. 
    .
    Think about it.

  • Goodadvice55

    Armed and waiting for you, burglar

  • Mindlessgue

    groos

  • Mindlessgue

    groos

  • Mcpherson

    Try to live in low crime areas; avoid proximity to metro areas with high populations. Let your lawn grow, the leaves unraked and let your son fix his car in your driveway–for however long it takes. Looking rich is looking ripe for thieves that sneak in the night (or broad daylight).  Also, leaving marksman targets posted on the tree in front doesn’t hurt, either. Just make sure they’re silhouettes of a burglar. If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to hang one from the tree…just to make a point.

  • Mcpherson

    Try to live in low crime areas; avoid proximity to metro areas with high populations. Let your lawn grow, the leaves unraked and let your son fix his car in your driveway–for however long it takes. Looking rich is looking ripe for thieves that sneak in the night (or broad daylight).  Also, leaving marksman targets posted on the tree in front doesn’t hurt, either. Just make sure they’re silhouettes of a burglar. If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to hang one from the tree…just to make a point.

  • Private

    FakeTV, like this article, seems to think burglars are clean-cut White guys.  If you don’t understand your business that well, I don’t want your product.

  • Blc123123

    Consider video cameras as a deterrent, they are easy to see and you can post stickers around, on 24-7, most robbers will want to avoid being recorded either prowling or entering.

  • DAUGHERTYPAMELA

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  • DAUGHERTYPAMELA

    INEED INSURANCE FOR 9$AMONTH PAYING 60.00 AMONTH THATISJUST WRONG DAUGHERTYPAMELA@ROCKETMAILCOM TELLME WHWRW TO GET THIS QUOTE              THIS IS ME NEEDING HELP

  • Remhepburn1

    Knock all you want.I always answer the door with a handgun.