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What Burglars Look For—And 7 Simple Ways to Deter Them
Dated: June 16 2025
Views: 55
Good news: residential burglaries are on the decline thanks to improved law enforcement tools and home security technology. But that doesn’t mean your home is immune. Burglaries still happen—and they tend to target houses that look like easy pickings.
What Do Burglars Look For?
Burglars are opportunists. They look for homes that offer:
Easy Access: Wood doors, open windows, or sliding glass doors that can be forced open
Hiding Spots: Overgrown bushes, privacy fences, or unlit entryways that let them sneak in unseen
No Security Measures: No visible cameras, motion lights, or barking dogs
Poor Lighting: No porch lights or landscape lighting that makes it easier to approach undetected
Signs of New Purchases: Empty boxes in the trash, lawn decorations for birthdays or holidays—these can signal valuables inside
Convenient Getaways: Homes near highways, back alleys, or located in secluded spots with few neighbors around
They can even pose as joggers, utility workers, or door-to-door salespeople to scope out your home and check when people are away.
Simple Ways to Make Your Home a Less Attractive Target
You don’t need a fortress to stay safe—you just need to make your home look like more trouble than it's worth to a potential burglar. Here are some practical and budget-friendly tips:
Use Your Car Remote as a Panic Alarm: Keep it by your bed at night. If you hear something suspicious, hitting the panic button will draw attention.
Upgrade Entry Points: Install steel doors and deadbolt locks—much harder to kick in than wooden ones.
Skip the Social Media Announcements: Don’t advertise when you’re on vacation or away from home.
Light Up Your Property: Install porch lights, motion-sensor lights, and pathway lighting to eliminate shadows.
Install a Doorbell Camera: Even the presence of a visible camera can deter burglars.
Get to Know Your Neighbors: A close-knit neighborhood is one of the best defenses. Watchful neighbors can spot and report suspicious activity faster than any camera.
Trim Overgrown Landscaping: Keep bushes and trees cut back around doors and windows.
Final Thoughts
Most burglars aren’t masterminds—they just want easy, low-risk opportunities. By taking a few smart precautions, you can drastically reduce the odds of your home being chosen.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. A few simple changes today can give you peace of mind tomorrow.
Alex Mabry
I am passionate about real estate! Growing up we moved around a lot, with a family of 7 my parents would find a diamond in the rough to transform into our family home, my allowance was earned helping ....
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REALTORS® Association of Northeast Wisconsin All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s), nor Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox Cities Realty - Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, nor RANWMLS shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox Cities Realty - Berkshire Hathaway Home Services may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. Copyright ©2026 REALTORS Association of Northeast WI MLS, Inc. All rights reserved. Last Updated: September 20, 2026 11:42 PM UTC
REALTORS® Wisconsin Real Estate Exchange (WIREX). All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Information is supplied by seller and other third parties and has not been verified. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s), nor Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox Cities Realty - Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, nor WIREX MLS shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox Cities Realty - Berkshire Hathaway Home Services may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. Copyright ©2026 Wisconsin Real Estate Exchange (WIREX) MLS, Inc. All rights reserved. Last Updated: September 20, 2026 11:38 PM UTC
