Burglaries have accounted about 44% of the Crime Index offenses and, in the United States alone, burglary occur every thirty-two seconds according to recent crime statistics. This post will take an unprecedented look on the burglars’ mind at work, their motivations and the factors that deter them, the dynamics of their methods and the significance of home security alarm systems.

Burglary is often a result of another person’s failure to adequately safeguard his/her property due to lack of home security systems, poor lighting which added to the offender’s opportunity to intrude without being detected or caught, and the lack of witnesses to identify the felon. Today, property crimes pose an even more physical threat to the victims and even the police as more and more burglars are now arming themselves for added protection and ease of escape. Unfortunately, these criminals are popularized in movies and televisions as stealthy individuals who have the knack to make a quick escape upon discovery making out heaps of cash or jewelry.

The Truth about Burglars

Realistically, burglars are inclusive of all nationalities, races, colors, religion, creed, education, sizes, shapes and ages. They can be a deranged man in the neighborhood or an expert artisan of the craft, a violent juvenile from a broken family, a drug abusive person or your next door neighbor’s kid committing theft just for the fun of it. Every country’s history has proved that the burglary involves potential violence leading to deadly crimes. Criminal records also proved that many burglary incidents did not end in stealing properties or valuables alone, but also included rape, assault and even homicide. Like any other criminal, burglars act and think instinctively towards “self preservation” first more than anything when discovered. Most burglars will not hesitate to use a weapon in order to escape.

Classification of Burglars

Burglars are generally classified into three categories: the Casual or Amateur burglar, the Juvenile burglar and the Professional or Cat burglar. In understanding a burglar’s personality, let’s take a closer look at these categories.

Purse snatching is one example of acts most often done by amateur burglars. Modern technology has provided these individuals the ability to communicate and be mobile in search for an easy potential target. Typical method of an amateur burglar is to strike quickly and flee the scene. Though considered amateurs, they are the ones who typically show nervousness or apprehensive state that can be triggered into panic and blind rage when discovered. Common age bracket is between 15 and 17 to below twenty five years old.

Burglars who commit the act fast and automatic without the need to focus on what they are doing are considered Cat Burglars. This type of burglars describes searching the house as relatively routine, instinctive and automatic. They search the insides of the house systematically from bedroom to kitchen and would go for the most valuable property. According to studies, the only factors that deter these criminals are home security alarm systems that could detect, monitor and report the crime and lead to their subsequent arrests.

Motivation

Among the burglars interviewed for select studies, women burglars indicated the need to acquire drugs as their primary motivation for the felony in order to support their drug habits. Men, on the other hand, ruled out money as their top reason.

Planning and Selection of Target

The leading factors that influence burglars’ decision in selecting a target property or home include proximity of the property to other people, traffic, police visibility, presence of people or in the house or business shop, and most significantly the signs of home or business security systems, surveillance systems such as CCTV cameras, alarms signs and other security equipment. Most burglars determine first if there are alarms installed inside and outside the property. More than half of the burglars interviewed disclosed that if they notice signs of alarm systems around, they would seek other alternatives or move on to another property without security equipment. Those who discovered presence of alarm systems said they would discontinue the attempt. Only a significant few pursue the crime even at the risk of getting detected.

Common Behavior

The more seasoned burglars would gather intelligence about a potential target way ahead before committing the crime. Most successful burglary attempts are those that were planned and painstakingly took considerable efforts to prepare.

Men burglars are likely more organized while most women intruders act in the “spur of the moment” while most burglars enter houses through forcing doors and windows open, picking locks or using keys that were previously acquired.

Men burglars are generally put off when they discover physical presence of home security alarm systems while most women are often dissuaded by mere warning signs of alarms posted.

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