Serrurier Verdun > 10 Things a Burglar Doesn’t Want You to Know

10 Things a Burglar Doesn’t Want You to Know

Victims of burglaries suffer some $4.7 billion in property losses a year, according to the latest FBI statistics. You may already be protecting yourself with a deadbolt lock on your front door and a high-tech alarm system, but to go the extra mile in security, think like a thief! Here’s crucial information the bad guys wish we wouldn’t share.

It’s a Jungle Out There

You’re justly proud of your rhododendrons and other thick shrubs that lend curb appeal. Unfortunately, lush hedges can provide cover for a burglar jimmying his way in. Nearby trees, too, can be used by a second-story man if the branches abut your windows. Keep vegetation trimmed low, and consider installing thorny plants close to the house to thwart thieves.

Mirror, Mirror in the Hall

A mirror in the entryway lets you assess your look before heading out the door. But check its position from your front windows. Can you see the reflection of your alarm system? If so, would-be intruders can too—and they’ll know at a glance if you neglected to arm it when

Bowling for Dollars

Here’s another entryway no-no: that bowl or basket where everyone tosses keys, wallets, phones, and the like. Sure, you’ll know where they are—but so will a burglar. The best place for car keys is beside your bed. If you wake up to noises that sound like someone breaking

A Pane in the Butt

The sound of breaking glass doesn’t provide much of a deterrent to burglars, but if your window security is lax, they can come and go without ever making a sound. Criminals often find a way into your home prior to breaking in—as part of a cleaning or repair crew, say—

Now, This Is Key!

No one likes to get locked out, but a spare key stashed under a rock or above the door frame is bound to be discovered. Even the dumbest bad guy learns where homeownersstore that extra set, so exchange yours with a neighbor you trust in case of emergency

You might keep the deadbolt locked on the front door at all times, but what about the back door off the patio? Or maybe you leave the garage door wide open during the afternoons? Be as conscientious about your less-used entrances as you are with your main one.

Victoria’s Not-So-Secret

You think hiding valuables among your unmentionables is a good idea—and so do thieves. Ditto for your nightstand and underneath the mattress. Smarter stashing places for jewelry, cash, and other small precious items include the attic, basement, kids’ rooms, kitchen

Think Outside the Box

To keep on enjoying that brand-new flat-screen TV, computer, or gaming system, discard the packaging properly. Cut it up into small sections, and stack the pieces to obscure what came inside from passersby. Better yet, keep cut-up cartons in a covered bin or inside the

Friends, Followers, and Fiends

When you’re out of town, you have a neighbor pick up your mail and you stop newspaper delivery so thieves won’t see them piling up—but then you blab your far-off whereabouts all over social media! All a burglar has to do is look up your address, then leisurely help

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On Guard in the Garden

An enterprising crook will stack patio furniture, then scale it to get into an upstairs window. If you leave your ladder lying around, you make it even easier for him. Garden tools belong in a locked container, lest the local baddie use them to break in. To be extra careful.