I’m an ex-burglar and have broken into 20,000 homes – but this household item will protect your valuables from raiders
AN ex-burglar who says he has broken into 20,000 homes has revealed his top tips to protect your valuables from thieves.
Darryl Kennedy, 58, developed a reputation as a notorious cat burglar in the UK and abroad and even headed up a professional gang of raiders.
The seasoned ex-con from Manchester started breaking and entering aged nine and has been jailed four times.
Darryl targeted the homes of the rich and famous, swiping diamonds and other precious jewellery before making a swift exit, reports
But after being released from prison in 2019, Darryl says he has ditched the life of crime and wants to help homeowners protect against burglars.
He said: "I'm a changed person now and I want to use what I know to eradicate burglary. People don't realise the best ways to protect their homes - it's more than just putting up CCTV cameras and locking doors.
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"I had a long career breaking into homes all over the world - I'd complete up to 15 in a day. I would sell on the jewels and use the money to fund holidays and stays in fancy hotels.
"I never stole from working class people, I would go for the upper echelons who could afford to lose it. I didn't realise until years later that I would only see the monetary value in the things I stole.
"When I met my victims, I realised I stole things which had been passed down for generations. It was traumatic for me and now I want to do my bit to eradicate burglary."
Darryl's first tip is to not just put CCTV on your own home but to partner up with neighbours and watch each other's properties too.
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When he was a burglar he said that the easiest targets were ones without others watching because there is less chance of witnesses.
He said: "Burglars know to look out and dodge CCTV on your own home, but don't think to check for neighbours' CCTV. You're actually better off protecting the house next door, and letting them protect you."
Darryl then gives a very useful tip on how to protect your valuables which unusually involves a beanbag.
The ex-burglar says that buying a beanbag with a zip is a great way to keep your jewellery, cash and other valuables safe as no one thinks to check it.
According to Darryl, putting the beanbag in a kids bedroom is ideal to throw burglar's off the scent.
He says: "The first thing I would do after breaking into a house is go to the master bedroom. It's the first thing any burglar thinks of - it's where all the valuables are.
"They don't want kids clothes, and they especially don't want children waking up, so they'll never go for the kids bedroom."
Lastly, Darryl recommends spending a few pounds on door bolts for your living room and kitchen doorways.
Locking them from the hallway before going to bed at night will mean that burglars who manage to break into either of those rooms will be locked inside.
He said: "There probably won't be many valuables in those rooms - they'll be looking for the bedrooms with the jewellery boxes.
"But there's no chance they'll risk kicking down the door and disturbing you in bed."
The father-of-four claims to have learnt his trade from his dad who was also a career burglar.
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And after a career spanning nearly half a century, Darryl says he regrets not being there for his now adult children while incarcerated and what he puts his victims through.
He said: "Now I see burglary is a horrible thing. I can't take back what I did, but I can try and stop it happening again."