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Want to know how to protect your home from being robbed this holiday season? (Floyd Mayweather does.) Who better to help you do it than actual burglars?!
Setting aside the fact that these burglars actually *ahem* got caught, the information they shared is actually pretty darn useful.
For example, did you know that three-quarters of the burglars surveyed say they will abandon a robbery attempt altogether because they had heard someone in the house or returning home? And that 86% of them will do anything they can to avoid bumping into the home’s occupant?
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Thanks to new research by Churchill Home Insurance, who asked actual convicted burglars for some of their tricks of the trade, you do now.
We also now know…
— 40% of burglars wear cheap sneakers when committing crimes, disposing of them after their thefts to avoid leaving traceable marks at the scene.
— Over three quarters of these criminals wear gloves, or even socks, on their hands to avoid leaving finger prints.
— One in five burglars uses a hat to cover their hair to disguise themselves when committing a crime.
— Only 14 per cent of burglars interviewed reported higher levels of care or awareness regarding leaving DNA evidence at the scene of a crime, such as not leaving cigarette butts, wiping away any sweat, or wearing latex gloves under normal gloves.
Martin Scott, head of Churchill Home Insurance, explains, “Burglars will usually target properties which look unoccupied and provide an easy entry and exit point, so that they can get away undetected.”
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“The chances of meeting a burglar are very slim but we urge householders to follow some simple steps to make burglars avoid their home,” Scott added.
“Making the property look occupied, having locks on doors and windows, remembering to lock all access points including garages and sheds and removing valuables from sight are all basic measures to help prevent burglary.”
That or just set traps like this.*
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(*Don’t actually do this.)