This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
SDMmag logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
SDMmag logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Editions
    • Archives
    • Monitoring Today
    • Professional Security Canada
  • Products
  • Newswire
  • Exclusives
    • SDM 100 Report
    • Top Systems Integrators Report
    • Annual Industry Forecast
    • State of the Market Series
    • Dealer of the Year
    • Systems Integrator of the Year
    • TMA Monitoring Center Excellence Awards
    • Blog
    • PSA Leadership Institute
  • Topics
    • Trends & Industry Issues
    • Video Solutions
    • Access Control & Identification
    • Smart Home
    • More SDM Topics
  • Columns
    • Editor's Angle
    • 5-Minute Tech Quiz
    • Security & the Law
    • Security Networkings
    • Digital Shuffle
    • Technology @ Work
    • Insider News & Business
    • Today's Systems Integrator
    • Marketing Madmen
    • Sales Stars
    • Smart Insights
  • Events
    • Industry Calendar
    • SDM 100 Gala @ ESX
    • Webinars
  • More
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • ISC West 2019
    • Photo Galleries
    • Newsletters
    • Classified Ads
    • SDM Store
    • White Papers
    • Sponsor Insights
    • More Resources
  • Directories
    • Buyers Guide
    • Take a Tour
    • Guide to Distributors
    • Guide to Central Stations & Monitoring
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Home » News Team Interviews Convicted Burglars Who Reveal Tricks of the Trade
Business Services & EducationSDM NewswireIntrusion AlarmInsider News & Business

News Team Interviews Convicted Burglars Who Reveal Tricks of the Trade

night-499986_1920.jpg
August 25, 2016
Tim A. Scally
KEYWORDS burglary prevention / security dealers / security systems
Reprints
No Comments
The I-Team of New York’s NBC Channel 4 put together a four-part investigative series in which they sent surveys to more than 500 convicted burglars and interviewed many of them.
 
The surveys asked about how the burglars chose their targets, their methods of breaking into homes and what residents can do to stop them. Because the burglars were convicted and already in prison, many were surprisingly candid about their methods, revealing many secrets, tricks and tactics.  
 
The first part of the series reveals the burglars’ methods and rationale for choosing their targets. Some key findings were not surprising, such as the fact that burglars prefer houses to apartments, but other findings seem to go against conventional wisdom. For instance, 61 percent of those who responded said they preferred to break in during the morning hours. 
 
Many burglars surveyed the houses they planned to break in to, often by posing as door-to-door salespeople or someone passing out religious literature. In fact, 29 percent said they knocked on doors before breaking in, and if someone answered, they had lies ready to explain why they were knocking. One went so far as to carry a leash so he could claim he was looking for his lost dog.
 
While only 10 percent of surveyed burglars are using social media to scope out potential victims, many of the younger burglars are using it more and more frequently.
 
Another surprising fact was that 37 percent said they would break in to houses even if they heard a dog barking, one burglar stating that “Dollar store Beggin’ Strips work wonders.”
 
Part 2 discusses the most effective methods of discouraging break-ins. The top answers burglars gave for how they entered a home were unlocked windows, unlocked doors and kicked-in doors. When asked about alarm systems, many replied they would not be deterred by an alarm because they were too fast for police, they could disarm it or they could break in without setting it off. 
 
While some of the burglars said window stickers made a home a target, Peter Goldring, CEO of ADR Security explained to viewers that statistics prove otherwise. Goldring said alarm and surveillance systems monitored by actual people work — despite what the burglars say. Goldring also maintained that historical data shows that houses with yard signs and window stickers from alarm companies are less likely to be burglarized. 
 
Interestingly, although many burglars seemed unconcerned with alarms, more than a third reported they would not break in to a house if a security camera was near a door or entryway. However, 44 percent said they would still break in.
 
Part 3 of the series discusses the best thing for homeowners to do when they find a burglar in their house. The burglars’ advice was to not confront them, but to hide and call 911. Of those surveyed, 77 percent said they would leave immediately if they found someone inside.
 
In Part 4, the I-Team discusses a particular question on the surveys: “What advice would you give your mom to protect her home and prevent break-ins?”
 
One tip was to keep shrubs and bushes trimmed low in order to avoid creating hiding places. Another suggested having a radio on at all times so burglars wouldn’t know who was inside. Of particular importance to alarm dealers, one burglar advised homeowners “Don’t try to save money by not alarming the second floor.”
 
Another burglar said he would advise his mom to “get the latest electronics that allow monitoring [and that] notify of anyone who rings the doorbell on your cellphone and allows you to communicate via speaker through your cellphone.”
 
Goldring agreed that the modern security technology that allows security surveillance footage to be Web enabled and even be fed directly to police can serve as an effective deterrent. 
 
To see the investigation and watch all four parts of the series, click here. 
Subscribe to SDM Magazine

Recent Articles by Tim Scally

State of the Market: Video Surveillance 2019

Get Smart About AI in Security

How to Survive the AI Apocalypse

Electric Guard Dog Names Wesley New CEO as DeMao Steps Down

Perennial Software Services Back Online After Cyber Attack

T-scally-200

Former Associate Editor Tim Scally wrote and edited news-focused articles and columns, including Insider and Newswire. Along with attending shows and delivering breaking news, Tim wrote blog posts, feature articles and company profiles; he also deployed the SDM e-newsletter and posts to social media. Before joining SDM from a previous editorial position at BNP Media, Tim spent more than 10 years as a middle- and high-school English teacher. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in English Education from Maranatha Baptist University.

Related Articles

Solitary Security: A Honeywell Survey Reveals Why People Living Alone Feel More Secure

Caught in the Middle: How the Repeal of Net Neutrality Could Affect the Security Industry

State of the Market: Video Surveillance 2018

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • SDM eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content What Is Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the SDM audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep.

Close
Featureimage_900x550__ovl0jlkbbj__
Sponsored By
Schneider Electric

New Digital Load Management System Drives Productivity and Enables New Business Models

Motor starter selection and configuration has always been a labor-intensive task. To address this challenge, machine builders and system integrators must adopt new technologies that simplify motor starter selection, installation, configuration and maintenance.

Popular Stories

Dealer of the Year(2019)

SDM 2019 Dealer of the Year: CPI Security of Charlotte, NC

Shiver Security

Shiver Security Expands With the Acquisition of Four Companies

GettyImages-1087183206

Whatever Happened to the Prediction of a Mass Extinction of Security Dealers?

STANLEY

STANLEY Security Partners With Indianapolis Colts to Honor Local ‘Security Champion’

Aiphone

Go Above & Beyond for Effective Emergency Communication/Notification

SDM 2019 Top Systems Integrators Report

Events

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Hiring Women in Security

Has your company made any efforts in the past year to specifically hire and/or promote women in managerial/executive positions? (Please select the best answer.)
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Contemporary Security Management, 4th Edition

Contemporary Security Management, 4th Edition

 Contemporary Security Management, 3rd Edition teaches security professionals how to operate an efficient security department and how to integrate smoothly with other groups inside and outside their own organizations. 

See More Products

SDM Magazine

_FC_SDM1219 cover 144x192

2019 December

Check out SDM Magazine’s December 2019 issue, featuring "CPI’s Key to Success Is Controlling ‘the Experience’ in-House", "Monitoring Services: The Cutting Edge", and much more.

Check back throughout the month for new content!

View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • List Rental
    • Online Exclusives
    • Industry Innovations
    • Partners
    • Privacy Policy
    • Survey And Sample
  • Want More
    • Subscribe
    • Connect

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing