Thursday, December 21, 2017

Have you heard a myriad of myths about how many break-ins occur while folks are having Christmas dinner at Granny's? Ed Deveau, director of Law Enforcement Relations at KeyMe, offers the following five most-common holiday home security realities and myths, along with some common-sense tips to avoid becoming a holiday burglary statistic: 

1. Holidays are the time of year when the greatest percentage of break-ins occur - FALSE
The highest percentage of burglaries actually occur during the summer months, with July and August being the most frequent months for break-ins.

2. Most break-ins occur during the day - TRUE
The most common time for a burglary to take place is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

3. Thieves never use the front door to break into a house - FALSE
Many people think a burglar would never be brazen enough to simply walk through the front door, but it is one of the most common entry points for thieves. Seasoned burglars know exactly where to look for the spare key that you've "hidden," and if they know you're not home, many thieves will simply kick in the door or remove it from its hinges. Ninety-five percent of all home invasions are the result of forceful entry, be that breaking a window, picking a lock, or kicking in a door.

4. The majority of break-ins are committed by burglars who live nearby - TRUE
The typical burglar resides within two miles of the target home. Because they live close, it's easy for them to learn your family's daily schedule and strike when they know you're not home. They may also check for signs that you're on vacation—such as flyers or newspapers piling up at your door, an unmowed lawn, or trash cans left at the curb.

5. Wealthy people are the primary victims of burglary - FALSE
In reality, middle and lower-class homeowners are the most frequent victims of intruders. Burglars usually target homes right in their own communities.

Here are a few tips to avoid becoming a victim:

- Vary your routine as much as possible and have someone take care of your home when you're out of town.
- Lock your house down. Burglars often enter through an unlocked door or window.
- Manage your keys, so you know how many copies exist and who has them.
- Don't leave presents or gifts in plain sight for potential thieves to see.

Source: KeyMe

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