Ex-burglars reveal how they pick a house to target – from lighting clues to leaving the bins out

EX-burglars have revealed the signs they look out for when picking a house to target – and what you can do to reduce your chances of being a victim.

While the number of burglaries has fallen by 30 per cent in the past year, experts think this could rise by 20 per cent due to the darker nights and people returning to their offices to work.

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Security retailers safe.co.uk spoke to former burglars and the victims of theft to draw up advice on how to reduce your chances of being targeted.

SIGNS OF GOING ON HOLIDAY

One victim of burglary said the thief had spotted their parents loading up the car to go on a skiing trip.

They said: “When we got back they’d taken everything.”

Experts said people should take any luggage to the car or taxi as fast as possible.

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They said: "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 people too."

DOES THE HOUSE HAVE A DOG?

A homeowner believes their property hasn’t been targeted by thieves because they have a dog.

The person, who has been a witness to a burglary, 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."

There are two reasons why a dog may deter a burglar, according to security experts.

Firstly, the dog may threaten their safety and may make them more likely to get caught.

The other is that dogs provide an early warning system to someone coming near their home.

They said: “A barking dog alerts the owners that someone is approaching the property, they detect noise quicker than humans, which gives a clear advantage."

OUTDOOR LIGHTS

A former burglar confessed they would "always skip the house with big outdoor security lights".

Anthony Neary, managing director for safe.co.uk, recommended putting on all your outdoor lights whenever possible.

He said: "A house in the dark could appeal to a burglar as it looks like nobody is in 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 in the new season."

LEAVING OUT BINS AND DELIVERIES

Experts recommend asking a neighbour or friend to lend a hand with bins and deliveries when you go away for any lengthy period, as these can signal to a burglar that you’re not at home.

An ex-burglar said not leave out deliveries or bins because a thief operating in your area will "see that and know you're not home".

Security experts added: "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."

BE ALERT TO REPEAT OFFENDERS

One former burglar thought a criminal was likely to “come back to the same houses quite often”.

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They added: “They do this because of a number of 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."

Mr Neary urged people that had been the victim of a burglary to make sure "extra security measures such as CCTV, alarms and locks are in place to prevent it happening again."

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