Master Sun Tzu said: know your enemy, know yourself, and victory is never in doubt, not in one hundred battles. To apply the ancient wisdom of Master Sun to home security, we must know the mind of the burglar, and adjust our defences accordingly. It is important to understand the four types of burglars and their methods of entry if you are to prevent them from entering your home.
1. Breakers
Blundering, unintelligent, and unprofessional, these wannabes are the most easily startled of all types of burglar. They tend to act out of desperation and do little planning. The counter strategy is simple: make it difficult for them to physically break through the entry points, then scare them off with alarms triggered by their recklessness. Using dead-bolts, replacing old door frames, and installing window security bars makes it difficult for a breaker to pry, or smash his way in. Choose from a wide variety of sound alarms that are triggered by this form of entry. Install glass-break detectors if your home has large windows that cannot be barred. The key is to purchase quality products, and test them frequently. Breakers pay no heed to cameras, but they shun loud noises and bright lights.
2. Sneakers
These sly devils employ lock picks and hide under the cover of darkness. The key attribute of a sneaker is that the enter unseen and unheard. Lock-picking, unlike in the movies, is a time consuming task. So using multiple locks of high quality will deter the lock-picker. Be sure that all doors and windows are equally secure. A chain is as strong as its weakest link, and a good sneaker always finds the weakest link. Trim shrubs, use landscaping lights, leave no shadows for them to hide. Sneakers abhor cameras and lights, but they are not as easily startled by sounds.
3. Intruders
The idea of home invasion is a frightening one. Many of these intrusions are targeted attacks, and so can be avoided by steering clear of troublesome business and troublesome people. Unfortunately they can also be random, so it is important to be prepared. Intruders tend to employ extreme violence, work in teams and carry weapons. This is the only type of burglar that does not care whether you are home or not. The first thing you must do is strongly secure your household against breakers. Intruders may trick you into weakening your security. It can be as simple as a knock on the door; as soon as you open the door to your unknown visitor, they force their way in. Counter this with solid habits: Always use the peep hole, and only open the door to someone you know and trust. Make a plan of escape, establish hiding spots, practice with your kids. Awareness, preparedness, and calmness are your weapons against intruders.
4. Professionals
We’ve all seen them in the movies: benevolent and beautiful protagonist thieves whom we grow to love over a two hour period. Professional thieves do indeed exist, but in a less romantic way. They are masters of surveillance. They may be casing several locations for months while they perfect their plans. Professionals prefer to appear to be on legitimate business, possibly walking into your home with your own keys during the daytime. Never attach your identification to your keys! This is a lead used by a pro, and may even be used by a wannabe. Form a neighborhood watch, let suspicious people and vehicles know that you are watching. The professional avoids violence and conflict. They only care about one thing: the pay off. Make the effort higher than the pay off, and the professional will pass you by.
Master Sun said: The highest level of warfare is to attack strategy itself. So to know the burglar, to know his mind, his techniques, and his strategy, is the cornerstone to keeping him where he belongs: away from your home.
Photo via miserablespice
