As surprising as it may sound, burglars look for clues left by house-owners that help them identify their next target.
Read on to find whether you could be making the same mistakes that those who have lost valuables in burglaries, have made.
Clues for Burglars Doorstep Clue: Stack of Newspapers scattered randomly - These are there because you did not cancel the subscription for your newspapers and periodicals.
Clue: Uncollected daily delivery items such as milk.
Not only are they clues but also milk decays and is a potential health hazard.
Clue: A "helpful" note telling visitors that you are away! It cannot get any worse than this.
You are inviting trouble by putting this sign.
And if you do not do it, it should not surprise you that a lot of people actually do this.
How to avoid these mistakes? Temporarily cancel all your subscriptions (newspapers, periodicals, journals).
If you cannot do that, then ensure that someone you trust collects these items regularly and carries the stuff back with them.
The least you can do, is put a box (like a larger letter box) in which these items can be dropped.
They will collect inside, but at least it will be difficult to make out from a distance.
Inside Clue: No lights are switched on during any time of the day.
It is unusual to find a city home which is completely dark and it indicates being vacant.
Clue: Almost everyone has those main door-bell switch with a light which is lit on only when the main power switch for the house is on.
And it is usual practice to switch off the main switch when we are going to away for a long time.
But this is also a clue that nobody is home! How to avoid these mistakes? Leave at least one light on.
Choose one which ensures that a window on the outside lets some light out.
It might fool one in believing that the house is occupied.
Leave the main switch on.
In modern houses, automatic circuit-breakers will ensure electrical safety if something happens to go wrong.
But that small light on the door-bell will definitely save you.
Inadvertent Announcements Often times, we talk about our travels plans loudly on our mobile phone on the road within hearing distance of other people.
Or in other public places like restaurants, malls, etc.
You never know who is listening to you.
And if it is a good burglar who comes to know of your plan, he will likely follow you home.
Double-checking our the addressee of our email and messages which contain travel plans is something we do not take seriously.
But if it lands in the hands of the wrong person, they will take it very seriously! Things you should do every time you leave home - Suspend all your subscriptions - newspapers, periodicals, journals - Postpone all deliveries - regular or one time - Leave a light on - specially one which sends some light out the window.
- Leave the main door-bell light on.
- Ask someone to check on your house regularly, if possible.
- At the time of leaving your home - Check all windows are locked properly.
- Lower curtains of all windows.
- If each of your rooms have keys, lock them and put all keys in a hidden place in your home.
- Unplug all small appliances.
This will increase safety from electrical fires.
- Burglaries do not happen often, but when they do, you lose a lot! - Take the above simple steps to ensure that you are not one of the victims.