5 tips from a former burglar: how to protect your home from robbery

The closer Christmas, the New Year and the joys associated with them come, the more carefree people behave. And this is despite the fact that the winter holiday season is considered one of the most dangerous in terms of burglaries.

SSPDaily writes: "The study found that only 47% of households close blinds or curtains at night, and 46% leave lights on in the house." Speaking about this topic, Michael Fraser, a former burglar and now a security expert, told the newspaper about the most common mistakes we make and shared tips on how to protect your home from intruders.

Don't throw documents on the street

People throw official documents into trash containers without thinking that they contain important, confidential information. That's why, according to Michael, the trash can is an important part of the thieves' "business."

He explained: "The first thing burglars will do is look through the trash can. There, they can find documents or ads with the name of the homeowner and use them to confirm their identity."

"So," says Michael, "before you throw something like that away, cut it up into small pieces, or better yet, burn it.

Check windows and door locks

Homeowners strictly monitor the security of the main entrance to the house, installing sophisticated locks and other security systems, but often forget about other entry points.

The expert advises: "Make sure all windows and doors at the back are locked and all valuables are out of sight."

"Burglars also check door locks. They are more attracted to cylinder locks because they are weak. I would recommend buying a deadbolt lock, which is much stronger, more reliable, and will not allow a thief to easily break the door."

Remove the "Beware of the dog!" sign

What seems like a reliable security measure to you can be an easy obstacle for an experienced burglar.

According to Michael, the classic "Beware of the dog!" sign no longer works, and something more effective needs to be used.

Moreover, such a sign gives burglars even more reason to attempt a break-in. Michael explained: "When a burglar sees it, they realize that there's a pet door in the house, which is an easy entry point."

Place calendars and valuables away from the window

According to the security expert, burglars often pay attention to calendars because they store important information about your schedule.

While a regular calendar may seem harmless if you can see it from the window, burglars can use it to figure out which days and when the house is unattended.

"I always," says Michael, "recommend covering the calendar or at least putting it out of sight.

For the record: According to a study conducted by Toolstation, 34% of households leave a spare key by the front door, most often under a flower pot or under a rug.

The expert strongly recommends refraining from doing so. He said: "If you leave the key outside the house, it will definitely be found."

Burglars know all the popular places to hide a key, and they look for clues on the property, such as fresh soil in a certain spot compared to the rest of the lawn or a pot that is slightly off from the location of the ring.

"I've always recommended leaving it with someone close to you who you can trust."

Travel in secrecy

For those going on vacation or traveling abroad to visit relatives, Michael suggested a plan of action for home security.

He explained: "If you're taking a taxi to the airport, order it on the road and don't give out any information about where you're going or how long you're going for."

"In addition, with social media, it is very easy for hackers to locate people, so don't post photos from your vacation until after the trip.