While fears of your home being burglarized are prevalent, and rightfully so, many homeowners may unintentionally invite a burglar’s unwanted attention.
Recently, a woman who says she used to be a burglar and appears to live in Tennessee, gave some useful home safety tips that go well beyond your standard doorbell camera.
Former Burglar Shares What Not To Do
TikTok creator @sweetmarie333 posted a video that has racked up over 811,000 views. In it, she shares valuable safety advice for concerned homeowners.
“Coming from a burglar that made a living off of burglarizing homes,” she begins, ”here’s some tips that might help you feel a little safer and keep your s—.”
The first tip is to Get rid of that ADT sign, the one that proudly advertises your alarm system. ADT is a well-known security company, but in her words, “That’s a welcome sign.”
“I want a house with a security system,” she adds, explaining that it signals to burglars that you likely have valuables worth stealing.
Her second tip is to remove those pet rescue stickers that say, “In case of fire, please save my dog.”
According to her, those stickers reveal more than you think. “That is letting us all know that your motion sensors are not on,” she says. “If your dog is roaming your house freely, so can I.”
She explains how most home security systems won’t trip unless the door or window magnets are separated. “I’m not gonna separate your magnets and come through your door,” she says. “I’m gonna bust the glass out.”
That’s because most people don’t activate their glass break sensors, and motion detectors often get turned off due to barking dogs or rowdy kids. Her advice is to lower the sensitivity if you must, but keep them on.
“It’s gonna keep you safer. It’s gonna keep your valuable safer,” she says.
She also clarifies she’s no longer that person. “That was me in full-blown addiction,” she explains. “I feel horrible for the things that I did, but if the little tips can help y’all, then here they are.”
Do Experts Back This Up?
While her advice might sound unconventional, it actually aligns with several expert recommendations. According to SafeHome.org, homeowners should avoid displaying signs of wealth and make entry points difficult to access, both of which she touched on.
Other expert tips include keeping your lights on when you’re away, covering windows to block views inside, and ensuring there are no blind spots in your home security camera setup. Some also recommend using smart home devices that create the illusion of activity inside the home when no one’s there.
Commenters Show Support
In the comments, users expressed a mix of appreciation and caution.
“Thank you for your service?” one person wrote.
“Can…can we trust her?” asked another. “I’m gonna trust her.”
“Rebalance that karma queen,” said a third.
“Congrats on getting clean and turning your life around,” someone else added.
How Common Is Burglary In The U.S.?
Residential burglary is still a serious concern, though the numbers are trending downward. In 2019, the U.S. saw over 1.1 million reported burglaries. By 2021, that number dropped to around 879,152.
And the trend seems to be continuing. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, the rate of reported home burglaries in the first half of 2025 was 19% lower compared to the same period in 2024.
@sweetmarie333 #felon #criminalmindsedit #addiction #homesecurity A few tips to help u better secure ur home from break-ins
BroBible has reached out to @sweetmarie333 for comment via TikTok direct message.