Homeowners often spend heavily on reinforced doors and modern security systems, but experts say public assumptions about effective protection often miss the mark, according to Onet Kobieta.
Experts explained that while sturdy doors can deter intruders, they are not usually the first thing a burglar notices when choosing a target. The selection process begins long before any attempt to break in, with experienced burglars first looking for signs of neglect and visible weak points around a property, including poor lighting, overgrown hedges, dense vegetation and shaded yards.
Homes that are easy to walk around freely become especially attractive to criminals, the experts said. Partly open windows and the absence of shutters or bars on ground floor and basement windows also raise the risk of a break-in, and modern windows have weak points that can be overcome in seconds with simple tools and no noise.
Signs Residents Are Away
Criminals often watch residents' daily habits first. A mailbox stuffed with flyers, shutters closed for days during daylight hours, or no activity on a property signal to burglars that a house is empty, often during the owners' holidays.
Experts also noted that criminals increasingly use social media, where open profiles showing travel plans or holiday photos can make it easier to plan a burglary.
