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The 12 Most Sought-After Items on Every Burglar’s Hit List

Burglars can't wait to get their hands on these items.

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Jewelry and box on gray background
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Jewelry

When you hear the word burglar, you’re probably already envisioning a masked man with a burlap sack full of jewels in hand. As it happens, this archetype arose because jewelry is extremely easy to “fence,” or resell illegally. Robert Siciliano, Security Awareness Expert and CEO of Safr.Me, tells us that it doesn’t even matter if your bling is authentic: “Burglars aren’t generally sifting through what’s real or fake until they get back to their evil lair,” he says. “They try to quickly get in and get out. But once they do, they can generally differentiate, and if they can’t, the pawnshop where they go can make the determination.”

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amazon alexa
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Your AI Assistants

“Your electronics are another prime target,” says Christina Mullen, a home security expert for Vivint Source. “When it comes to electronics and appliances, the burglar is going to take the most accessible items. They do not want to spend more time trying to take an appliance that is mounted on the wall, hard to reach or hidden items.” Mullen says that burglars tend to like small yet expensive devices such as AI Assistants, like Alexa-enabled devices and Google Homes. If you’re looking to hide your valuables, these stealthy diversion safes are a good investment. 

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money american hundred dollar bills - horizontal on grey background
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Cash

Maybe switching to credit or debit cards is the right idea—burglars love to sift through your drawers and purses for cold, hard cash. Unlike traceable debit and credit cards, once it’s gone, cash can’t be canceled and can’t be found again. In addition, cash loss can be hard to prove to insurers, especially when excessive amounts are stolen. Though it might not be the safest form to keep your earnings in, there are still times that you should always use cash.

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pills bottle
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Prescription drugs

“The most popular items that burglars are looking to steal are typically cash, jewelry, and electronics. However, more recently, prescription drugs have become valuable,” says Patricia Vercillo, Vice-President of Operations at The Smith Investigation Agency and the Smith Training Centre.“If not for personal use, the burglar won’t have a hard time selling them on the street, which can make for a dangerous situation.” She recommends that homeowners dispose of old leftover or expired medications so that they do not become a victim of this kind of theft. To be safe with your medications, always ask these 10 important questions before taking a prescription. 

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wide screen TV on wooden commode near grey wall
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Unmounted TVs and other electronics

Your child’s new Switch? Your PS4? These cutting-edge gaming consoles are sleek, powerful, and most of all, extremely portable. These two items—which could fit cozily in a briefcase—are high-cost and low-density, making them the perfect steal for any home invader. Thieves also love to steal TVs, but only unmounted ones. “Remember, convenience is key,” says Mullen. “If your TV is mounted on the wall and bolted in, it’s no longer an easy target and is less likely to get stolen.”

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gun gray background
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Firearms

Firearms are also a hot target for thieves; gun owners can expect to be targeted by burglars because of the high cost and legal difficulty of obtaining firearms. “[Firearms] sell at a high-ticket price on the streets with tons of buyers ready and willing,” says Vercillo. The Bureau of Justice (BJS) estimated in 2012 that about 172,000 firearms are stolen during burglaries each year, and for good reason: guns stolen in robberies cost the owners an average loss of $450, according to BJS, and can be resold in no time. Vercillo notes that despite safety measures that some gun owners take, “gun safes and locked cabinets aren’t always foolproof...the good news, if any, is that because guns are registered, recovering the piece won’t be too difficult if it’s been confiscated or used…hoping the situation does not end traumatically.”

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Yellow drill bit in the drill closeop on grey background. Suitable for any purprose use.
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Power tools

Mullen notes that some of the least expected items might go missing in a robbery. “You wouldn’t expect the power tools in your shed to be a target, but they’re decently valued and easily re-sold…even kitchen appliances can fall victim to the burglar’s sweep of your house.” To prevent this theft, smart homeowners should check that they’ve locked their outdoor sheds and aren’t leaving their cars—which often contain garage door-opening remotes—unlocked overnight. You’ll want to be aware of what makes your house an easy target for burglars, too. 

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man holding laptop
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Personal information

Your burglar might just be someone you know. In 65.1 percent of offenses, the perpetrator was not a stranger, but someone that homeowners recognized or trusted. “What they steal may have more to do with their disdain of the homeowners,” says Leonard Sipes, the former Director of Information Services for the National Crime Prevention Council, “I know of a case where a laptop was stolen just to pry into the lives of the occupant.” According to Sipes, the homeowner’s dogs were also present at the scene of the crime, but the thief simply fed the dogs that already recognized him. If this statistic surprises you, read more about the most shocking safety statistics

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Small modern safe with valuables on grey background
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Your safe isn’t safe

Safes and strongboxes aren’t guaranteed to protect your valuables, especially if they’re light, small, or not installed in a wall. “Keep a small safe under your bed? They’ll probably check, and they just might carry the whole thing with them,” says Mullen. If you’re looking into buying a safe, remember that some new electronic safes can be hacked, and old-fashioned safes can be cracked open with enough force—finding a better hiding place might be the key. Check out these safety tips that could save your home from a break-in.

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Scrap metal

According to Dr. Ben Stickle of Middle Tennessee State University, scrap metal is a valuable material to home intruders. Since metals such as copper are valuable and can be easily resold, Dr. Stickle says that scrap metal thieves target “air conditioners, hot water heaters, electrical cables, plumbing materials, and more.” Burglars will target homes under construction, but they don’t always stop there. “Be careful who you let work on your home,” says Stickle. “many metal thieves had current or past experience as roofers, plumbers, electricians…and would often return after seeing items of metal that were valuable.” Here’s an unfortunate truth: your yard could be giving burglars clues. 

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kitchen coffee appliances
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Kitchen appliances

Do you love your NutriBullet? Your electric mixer? Your Crockpot or your Soda Stream? Well, so do thieves. These items can be re-sold and will easily fit into a duffel bag. “Even kitchen appliances can fall victim to the burglar’s sweep of your house,” says Mullen. Some thieves have even been known to steal refrigerators and stoves because of their expensive market prices, but it’s far harder to make a stealthy get-away with a stainless-steel fridge. Stay ahead of would-be thieves by learning the signs your home is being watched

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Your old iPod

Nervous thieves aren’t picky, and whatever’s visible is fair game. “[Thieves] won’t spend their time looking for specific items that are in-vogue—you’d be surprised at some of the low-profile items that get stolen, like corded headphones or even an iPod,” Mullen says. Most thieves are just trying to be speedy, but we like to think that some are into vintage tech, or just forgot their earphones at home. Now that you know what burglars are after, know the ways to outsmart them

Dani Walpole
Dani Walpole is an Editorial Intern at Reader's Digest. She is a senior at the State University of New York at New Paltz, where she is completing her degrees in Digital Media Production and English: Creative Writing. At SUNY, she works for WFNP 88.7 and writes for The New Paltz Oracle and The Teller Magazine. She is passionate about travel, rock music, and being employed after graduation.