APB Security Systems

How to beat a burglar

Become an astute observer. Burglars case homes and neighborhoods and it's easy only if neighborhood residents allow it.

Since most burglaries occur during the daytime, the likelihood of a neighbor spotting a burglar is relatively high. But what does the "burglar" look like?

Don't expect to see a man wearing a black mask, sneaking around on his toes while looking from side to side (unless he's a beginner).

However, I would be suspicious of the following:

Two people in a vehicle (at least one of which is a male) driving slowly past the same areas more than once. They may just be looking for an address but they also may be looking for signs of occupancy and hidden access points such as side doors or basement windows.

People walking past homes who seem to be paying more attention to your home than to each other. They could simply be admiring the area's housing and landscaping or they may be looking for occupancy and access.

That nice looking man in a sportsjacket ringing your neighbor's doorbell could simply be a salesman but he may actually be prying open the front door with a crowbar which was hidden in his jacket sleeve while giving the impression that he is being let in.

Those two boys handing out circulars or flyers may be doing just that or they too may be casing the area. I've known of an instance where the two burglars were actually handing out my friend's home improvement brochures. Luckily my friend did not fit the description given to police by an attentive homeowner.

Was it a wrong number or was the burglar using a cross phone directory to determine if you were at home? He may even be calling from his carphone. If the burglary resulted in a murder or other serious crime, the police may investigate all incoming calls but this procedure is not the norm for a typical burglary.

Did your teenage child's friend "accidentally" walk into your bedroom, or was that person looking for a jewelry box? Can you be sure that none of your child's friends are kleptomaniacs, supporting a drug habit or are larcenous by nature. Some of our customers have learned the hard way that not everyone can be trusted. This also includes workers in your home who have access to your bedrooms.

Here's what you can do to make it more difficult for the burglar or thief in your neighborhood:

1. Write down license plates and descriptions of people who may not belong in your neighborhood. If the same car keeps circling the block or a parked car is occupied for no apparent reason, a plate number and description may prove valuable if you discover a neighbor was burglarized.

2. Spread the word to neighbors of all criminal activity in your area. If you don't have a block association, mail out a letter to all your neighbors asking them to share any criminal activity with you so that you can relay the incidents to the neighborhood. Contact your precincts local crime prevention office to get a jump start on criminal trends for your first mailing.

3. Arrange with neighbors to call each other if you see a stranger being let in. It is possible that the "salesman" is a burglar who forcibly entered the house or that he used subterfuge or a weapon to gain entry and is now robbing your neighbor at gunpoint. Likely? No. Possible? Yes. Worth a phone call?
You bet.

4. Keep a disposable camera accessible in your home and vehicle. If I was on a sales call and a suspicious neighbor took my picture, I would simply smile and compliment that person for their caution. As video cameras and pocket cameras become more commonplace, we will catch many perpetrators before and during criminal activities. A snapshot from your window or car may someday prove valuable.

I also recommend a camera be kept in all vehicles for use in the event of a collision. Pictures of the vehicles may prevent fraudulent "extra" damage, the location of the vehicles in relation to road signs and traffic conditions may help prove your case and the actual occupants can't be altered to cover-up fraudulent substitutions of driver and passengers.

5. Most of our customers have a back-up alarm in their master bedroom. Insist that it be on when your children have guests. It may otherwise prove too difficult for your child to control the whereabouts of each friend or friend-of-a-friend.

This is especially recommended during a house party where strangers may have access to bedrooms. Installation of a locking doorknob may make it difficult enough for such a thief.

6. Get an unlisted phone number and purchase an answering machine and record a message indicating that "you've called 123-4567 but we can't come to the phone right now . . ". This would make access to your phone number more difficult and the burglar calling is still not sure if you are out or simply not answering.

With summer approaching burglars are happier! With the increase of sidewalk traffic from neighbors socializing, people exercising and children out of school, they are less conspicuous. However, if all these neighbors, walkers, joggers and children became attentive to a criminal's methods and reacted as I have suggested, then burglars might find themselves a dying breed and I might have to find a different occupation.

Articles from Steve Coppola, President of APB Security Systems

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