Reader TTS

In 2022, Police recorded crime in England and Wales had risen by 10 percent.  Security retailers safe.co.uk spoke to ex-burglars and the unfortunate victims of theft, about what entices a

burglar to a home and how to keep it safe when on holiday this summer.  REPEAT BUSINESS  One ex-burglar explained they will likely strike the same place again: “Burglars come back to the

same houses quite often. They do this due to several motives. It's guaranteed that the people they robbed replaced the stuff they stole the first time, and often these replacements are

of better quality than the original.”  Anthony Neary, managing director for safe.co.uk, added: “As they’ve had time to assess the whole property, they know the layout of the house and can be

clinical in their approach.  “Ensure that if you have been burgled, extra security measures such as CCTV, alarms and locks are in place to prevent it from happening again.” PACKING  A

victim explained: “They saw my parents loading the car to go skiing, when we got back they’d taken everything.” Anthony added: “When taking a trip or going on a spring break, swiftly take

the luggage to the car or taxi. The longer you take to pack up a car, the more chance a burglar has of seeing that the homeowner is leaving the property, giving them optimum time to plan

their theft, and potentially tell other offenders too.” FAMILY PET  One Burglary witness said: “Everyone’s house in the area has been burgled, except ours. The difference is, we have a

Dachshund and a ‘Beware of the Dog’sign on the fence.” Anthony noted: “Having a dog is useful for two reasons. Firstly, burglars may be inclined to miss a property if they see a ‘Beware Of

The Dog’ sign as a big dog threatens their safety and adds a huge risk of being caught.  “Secondly, a barking dog alerts the owners that someone is approaching the property, they detect

noise quicker than humans, which gives a clear advantage.” EXTERIOR LIGHTS  An ex-burglar admitted: “I’d always skip the house with big outdoor security lights.” Anthony recommended:

“Turning on all exterior lights at night where possible. A house in the dark could appeal to a burglar as it looks like nobody is on the property, and there could be an assumption that the

owner is asleep or not at home.  “Any dark or shadowed areas are ideal for a burglar to try to approach the house undetected, making security lights essential.” HELP FROM A NEIGHBOUR  One

ex-burglar described obvious signs a household is not in: “Don’t leave out deliveries or bins, burglars casing your estate will see that and know you’re not home.” Anthony added: “Burglars

can tell if a family has gone on holiday or away for the weekend. From full letterboxes to forgotten milk deliveries and left out wheely bins, the signs show that the property is vacant. 

“If you are going away for an extended period of time, ask a trusted neighbour or friend to maintain any elements that could be an advertisement for burglars.”