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30 Helpful Tips From Ex-Burglars To Prevent Your Own Home From Being Robbed

Better listen to the experts, however unlikely they may be.

30 Helpful Tips From Ex-Burglars To Prevent Your Own Home From Being Robbed

Home burglary is one of those crimes that can turn an ordinary day into a long, stressful mess. In the U.S. alone, millions of burglaries happen every year, which is enough to make anyone think twice about how secure their place really is.

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That is why this story stands out, former burglars and everyday Reddit users shared the kinds of habits, mistakes, and small details that can make a home look like an easy target. The result is a mix of blunt, practical, and sometimes surprising advice that people can actually picture in real life.

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Some of the tips are simple, some are a little unexpected, and all of them point to the same thing, burglars often look for the easiest opportunity. Read on.

1. Let them know that you're very much aware of their presence and that you're not going to let them take anything from you

1. Let them know that you're very much aware of their presence and that you're not going to let them take anything from youaj9811
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2. You don't need to announce that your home is empty and vulnerable

2. You don't need to announce that your home is empty and vulnerableSecPhase
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3. How about getting to know the stranger first before revealing everything about your home to them?

3. How about getting to know the stranger first before revealing everything about your home to them?Mybigbrowntitties

That is where a lot of people get careless.

4. Lesson learned: hide your stuff, but don't forget where you hid it

4. Lesson learned: hide your stuff, but don't forget where you hid itfizzy_sister

5. Getting robbed once is bad, but allowing it to happen again is even worse

5. Getting robbed once is bad, but allowing it to happen again is even worse[deleted]

6. This is why you should make good neighbors

6. This is why you should make good neighborsandrew1184

7. It's the thought that counts, you know

7. It's the thought that counts, you knowdougiebgood

8. We doubt the excuse will always work, but it's a perfectly good excuse for leaving the cleaning for later

8. We doubt the excuse will always work, but it's a perfectly good excuse for leaving the cleaning for laterPuzzleBuzzleRuzzle

9. Thieves aren't always known for respecting the dead, so it's better to be safe

9. Thieves aren't always known for respecting the dead, so it's better to be safeMistahZig

10. Some robbers will give up when you present just the right challenge

10. Some robbers will give up when you present just the right challengelordpanda

One small detail can change the whole mood of a house.

lordpanda

11. Make your house so hard to break into that robbers will just nope right out

11. Make your house so hard to break into that robbers will just nope right outCount2Zero Count2Zero

12. Don't help the burglars by giving them access to all those free resources

12. Don't help the burglars by giving them access to all those free resourcesAlphaTangoFoxtrt

13. Another reason why dogs are just the best buddies out there

13. Another reason why dogs are just the best buddies out thererottinguy rottinguy

14. Another proof that being messy isn't so bad after all

14. Another proof that being messy isn't so bad after allImAlwaysRightHanded

15. Don't give the burglars any kind of advantage at all

15. Don't give the burglars any kind of advantage at alljoeri1505 joeri1505

16. No burglar would take a stupid risk in this situation

16. No burglar would take a stupid risk in this situationSSmtb

17. Get to know where your best hiding places are

17. Get to know where your best hiding places areTheSecretofBog

18. If you have a safe, make sure it's secured as well

18. If you have a safe, make sure it's secured as wellRallyX26

19. Big dogs are really good at scaring off thieves

19. Big dogs are really good at scaring off thievesvoltairevillain

That kind of logic shows up again and again in these replies.

This feels like someone locking the office snack cabinet, while coworkers call them selfish.

20. Make your home as undesirable as possible

20. Make your home as undesirable as possibleDblDkrPkr DblDkrPkr DblDkrPkr

21. Basically, make sure that you are better protected than your neighbors

21. Basically, make sure that you are better protected than your neighborsThesaltysnal

22. Protect your home the best way you can

22. Protect your home the best way you can[deleted] [deleted] [deleted] [deleted]

23. Sometimes, faking it just helps a lot

23. Sometimes, faking it just helps a lotComic-Curious

24. Those are actually pretty great hiding spots

24. Those are actually pretty great hiding spotsDJGlennW

25. Better be prepared when the thieves figure out the ruse

25. Better be prepared when the thieves figure out the ruseMoridyn

Some of the best ideas are the ones that make a place look boring.

26. Try to be the house that no one even gives a second glance at

26. Try to be the house that no one even gives a second glance atusingstoleninternet usingstoleninternet

27. Think like a thief and consider what they'd want to target, then protect that

27. Think like a thief and consider what they'd want to target, then protect that[deleted] [deleted] [deleted] [deleted] [deleted]

28. Make your home look secure, but don't overdo it

28. Make your home look secure, but don't overdo ititsalawnchair

Getting robbed could probably be one of the worst things in life, especially since you've spent so much time, effort, and resources acquiring the things people might like to steal. That's why it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Did you list some tips from above? We hope you did, because they could really make your home a lot safer for you.

May your home stay off every thief's radar.

Want more theft drama, read about a lunch thief coworker who made someone question sharing food.

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