The 5 secrets burglars don’t want you to know

Thieves will usually target homes where they’re less likely to be caught and avoid homes that look difficult to break into or where they may easily attract attention if they try. Research with convicted burglars has revealed their top 5 secrets:

1. Burglars want you to keep your doors and windows unlocked.

Leaving your doors or windows unlocked makes a burglar’s job so much easier. It means they can slip in and out of your home, without you even realising they’ve been inside. While you’re distracted doing gardening, they’ve entered via an unlocked front or side door and left with your cash, laptop, phone or jewellery.

2. Burglars don’t want you to be home.

Nearly all burglars will knock on the front door or ring the doorbell before breaking in to see if anyone’s home. They try to avoid confrontation or drawing attention to themselves and will usually steer clear of homes or streets with activity.

3. Burglars want to spend as little time as possible inside your home.

If they can be in and out in under five minutes, they will be. On average burglars spend around 8 minutes inside your home – the time it takes to boil an egg.

4. If you own a dog, a burglar is much more likely to steer clear of your home.

For many burglars, if you own a dog it’s a dealbreaker – they’re more likely to move on . While big, loud dogs will turn most burglars off, small noisy dogs who bark at strangers can also make them think twice. If you can’t get a dog, a “Beware of the dog” sticker or an electronic barking dog alarm can also be effective.

5. Burglars will look for obvious signs of valuables.

Burglars are mainly after your car keys, cash or things they can easily sell for cash. An expensive car in the driveway or valuable items left clearly on view through windows or in your yard are a magnet, while empty packaging from TVs, computers and PlayStations left lying around advertises what you've got to steal.

Here are burglars’ top 4 tips to keep them away

1. Keep your doors locked, always. Deadlocks or electronic locks are best.
2. Don’t leave keys in easy-to-access spots.
3. Get a dog if you can.
4. Install a burglar alarm.

Watch a burglar in action

Through the eyes of a burglar

Reformed burglar Richard Taylor dons eye-tracking glasses so you can see how he used to scan homes for security weaknesses while searching for the perfect place to break in to.