Look at your home the way a burglar does

“I’m fast and agile, I have been well trained how to do it, so let’s go!”

You could easily believe these words were being uttered by an athlete, but you would be wrong. These are the words uttered in the mind of the burglar as he plans to burgle your home.

So how do his mind, planning and actions meet up?

To find out, The Courier got some advice from IPSS Electronic Security about things a burglar is looking for.

• He roams the streets looking for easy access on the perimeter of a property first – no obstacles – this means a small, low wall which he can hurdle over and no electric fence to give him a shocking jump start into the property.
• Easy access via a low gate, unlocked gate or a gate on an unsecured rail, ticks all the boxes.
• Over-grown vegetation creates lovely hiding spots, especially at the entrance of the property. 4. A tree with branches hanging perfectly over your boundary line, to aid the perpetrator in his entry or exit of your garden.
• Light exposes evil intentions, so light up your property and expose the burglar as soon as he sets foot in your domain.
• The presence of dogs are his next thought. Are they vicious or passive? Followed by the presence of outdoor beams which will be the next obstacle to beat. Beams on the outside of your building will be your first alarm of unwanted movement.
• If the perpetrator can work around the beams and dogs, the next opportunity to look for is a permanently open window (for the cat perhaps or KZN heat). No burglar bars is a bonus for his planning, as well as the flimsy steel bars which he simply pushes out, like child’s play. Perhaps the residents leave valuable items within reach of open windows, oh and look at all the tools left lying around the garden in easy reach. A pool net, ladders and spades are all valuable items.
• A sliding door without a security gate is a prime choice of entry, as lifting the sliding door off its hinges is once again too easy. A good element of surprise here would be a door contact on the sliding door, linked to the house alarm.

“The more difficult and time consuming the job, the less likely the perpetrator will choose your home. He knows he’s only got a few minutes before the siren and armed response will attract unwanted attention,” said IPSS Electronic Security’s operations manager, Lina dos Santos.

She stressed that one of the best ways to frustrate a burglar was still an alarm system which is armed, working, and linked to an armed response service, indoor and outdoor beams, with the first line of defence being an electric fence with a siren which alerts you to a security breach on the perimeter of your property.

All this makes planning the heist that much more difficult.

>>> Need some ideas for things to do? Check out Holiday Vibes.

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