Do Burglars Hit the Same Place More than Once?

Do Burglars Hit the Same Place More than Once?

Known as repeat victimization, there have been several studies in Great Britain on burglars hitting the same target more than once. One study, by Ian Hearnden and Christine Magill, interviewed incarcerated burglars and found that they do tend to go back to the scene of the crime.

State the Facts

Hearnden and Magill found from their research that almost two-thirds (53 out of 82) of the burglars they surveyed indicated they had done a repeat crime somewhere. And half of them said they came back within a month of the original crime. Why would they come back? Overall, the general consensus was because they knew there were still items there they wanted. This could be because they saw them before but couldn’t take them then. Or it could be because they know you have already replaced the stolen items.

One could also argue that burglars will assume that whatever security vulnerabilities allowed them access before will still be in place. And having been in your home, they know how to get in and they know the layout. This can shave seconds or even minutes off the time needed to get what they want and go. Most likely your family has not changed its schedule dramatically either. The burglar may already know, or can easily figure out, when the home is most likely to be unoccupied.

Awareness is Key

Most people would never dream they would suffer from repeat victimization. They either believe they were targeted randomly or that the criminals have moved on to another area. As a result, they may not take immediate measures to make the home more secure. Dealing with police reports and insurance claims is time-consuming and can distract you from improved security in the short term. Burglars are counting on this! Being aware of the threat can help you to take measures to protect yourself from a round two.

Take Action

Here are tips to help reduce the chances that you will be victimized again after an initial burglary.

Have a security assessment done. Call your local security company and ask them to provide a proposal for you to secure your home in a way that will deter burglars. Then move forward with the plan as soon as you can.
Use your alarm. If you have an alarm, use it. And get it monitored so the police will be notified of a break-in. Especially if a burglar has already been to your home and knows the alarm did not go off, make sure they get the surprise of their life if they come back.
Advertise that you are protected. Whether it is an alarm company sign in the yard, stickers on the windows or a Beware of Dog sign, make it abundantly clear that your house is now protected.
Make your home look occupied. Add home automation to turn on lights and the television even when you aren’t home. Vary the schedule so it doesn’t appear to be on a timer.
Add video cameras. The burglars in the study above said that a visible security system or cameras were a big deterrent when they were picking a target. Make sure they see you have added these to your home since their last visit.
Hide the evidence. When you replace your stolen items, don’t leave evidence where anyone can see it. This means not putting the television or other electronics boxes out with the trash. Don’t wear your new jewelry in public right away. Also, be aware of workers on your street or even in your home who may be looking for replacement items to report back to the thief.
Change your locks. Even if you don’t think any copies of the key to the house were taken, change the locks to be safe. You can get keyless entry locks which allows access without having a bunch of keys floating around.

We Can Help

Being burglarized is a traumatic event and brings up a lot of emotions. No one should have to go through it once, and certainly not more than once. Stop opportunistic burglars in their tracks by adding security features and doing everything you can to prevent repeat victimization. Call Cultris Security at 281-506-8466 or visit us online for a security assessment of your home.