Former thief Michael Fraser warns of several bad habits we should get rid of.
There is probably no greater expert on burglary than the thieves themselves.
So listen up as Michael Fraser, a former thief turned security expert, reveals five basic tips to keep your home safe and avoid burglary.
Destroy documents
Firstly, you should destroy your documents by shredding or tearing them up, as many people just throw them in the trash without a second thought.
Many thieves tend to check trash cans for important information that can help them with their ‘task’.
Michael also has some helpful advice for all of us law-abiding citizens out there. He says it’s a great idea to take a close look at the locks on your doors and windows. We often focus only on the front door and forget about security elsewhere in the home, so it’s good to check in on that too!
In other words, they make it possible for burglars to find their way into the home in other ways.
Michael also points out that it’s important that valuables are not visible, and calendars should be kept hidden as they can provide information about residents’ schedules.
Thieves can use this information to find out when the house is empty.
Drop this bad habit
Many people leave a spare key at the front door, which Michael says is a bad habit. The reason, of course, is that most thieves know the common hiding places.
Finally, he explains that it’s best to keep travel plans secret.
Social media also makes it easy for thieves to find out where people are, which can help them plan a break-in.
If you’re going on vacation, it’s not a good idea to share photos or videos on social media. It’s a direct invitation to burglars.
