How safe is your home? Whether you’re planning an extended vacation or just going out for the night, have you protected your castle against unwanted intruders, or have you left an easy target for a break-in? A former thief, now concerned for community safety, shares his insights from the time on the “other side.”
You’re planning a two-month escape to a bungalow colony or maybe just going out for the night. But are you prepared for the possibility that someone is watching your home tracking your moves waiting for the minute he can pry open a window or jimmy a lock and clear out your valuables? According to crime-watch statistics burglaries increase about 10 percent during June July and August. So how can you protect your home and still be able to leave — or make sure no one breaks in while you’re still there? Do you know what vulnerable points a burglar looks for and whether your home is an easy target?
One way to understand the mindset of a thief hunting for a break-in opportunity is to talk to someone who’s been on the “other side.” Yonatan — a 20-something American Jew and former convicted burglar who served 18 months in prison on a plea for weapons charges after facing charges of grand theft — fits the bill.
“Appearance is everything. You want to make your home look as uninviting as possible” insists Yonatan. “You don’t want your home to look neglected. Cut the grass. Don’t let newspapers pile up in your front yard or mail pile up in your mailbox. Thieves sometimes go through a rich neighborhood looking for piles of newspapers.”
Although to my mind a home that looks neglected is uninviting Yonatan is quick to point out that when it comes to discouraging would-be thieves the opposite is true. Does that mean if we have a neighbor taking in our mail or if we decide to stay home this year then we’re in the clear?
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