Thieves mark houses in these 4 ways before robbing them: the signs that do not deceive

Summary

How do you know if burglars are targeting your home? Some tips to protect yourself from thieves

How do you know if burglars are targeting your home?

In general, burglars anticipate their crime by using a few tricks to mark the targeted homes. Their upstream “job” is precisely to learn more about the daily habits of their future victims. In this respect, the elderly and lonely are the most vulnerable. While some thieves are smarter than others, there are a range of common methods that can arouse your suspicions and warn you. So be vigilant and pay close attention to the following signals.

An inverted doormat

When you come home from work at the end of the day, if you notice that your doormat is upside down, be careful. Certainly, the normal reaction of any person would be to have the mechanical reflex to put it back in place. But, beware, by making this gesture, it will allow thieves to check when you return home or on the contrary if you have not been there for a while.

A leaflet under the door

The flyers left under the door are also proof of your comings and goings. If they hang around the house for too long, it tells the thieves that you’re away right now. While by retrieving them automatically, it implies that you are not on the move. Burglars often use these flyers to find out if the homeowners are at home or if they are away for a long time. Like leaflets, they can also use large stones, garbage or other objects placed in places to be cleaned. So check with your neighbors to see if they’ve noticed similar signals.

An illustration on the gate or fence

A small chalk mark on a façade, fence or gate can also be one of the signs that thieves are targeting your home. It may even look like graffiti or a banal children’s drawing.

Tape on the lock

If you notice the presence of tape on your door, covering the keyhole, this is again a worrying sign. Natural reflex: when you arrive home, it is impossible not to remove it before going inside. However, if the tape remains intact for some time, it is clear to the thieves that the apartment has been abandoned for a long time. Whereas if the ribbon is no longer there, it proves that someone took care to remove it.

These are just some of the signs that thieves leave behind in an attempt to watch you and find out if you are around or far from home. So precisely, to thwart their plans, if you plan to go on a trip, all you have to do is warn one of your neighbors and ask him nicely to monitor these signals. He can retrieve your mail, put the doormat back if it has been moved or remove the ribbon from the lock.

Some tips to protect yourself from thieves

Before going on vacation, carefully lock the doors and close the windows of the whole house. Do not forget the attic, the small skylights and the windows of the cellar. But remember not to lock the blinds to cover your tracks.

While you’re away, ask a trusted relative or neighbor to regularly pick up mail from the mailbox and check for suspicious things around. Always maintain a good relationship with the neighborhood: friendly and helpful neighbors can reassure you more and warn you in case of movements of suspicious people around your home. They will even be able to take pictures or alerter the police.

Have you installed a security system? If you always activate it before leaving the apartment, it is advisable to place it in a conspicuous place to deter potential thieves from approaching.

Never keep large sums of money at home. Better to keep them safe in the bank.

Always remember to check the magnetic locks on the front doors of your building. If the system is defective, they must be notified.