Home break-ins are something that nobody wants to think about. Yet, it is something that happens every day. Criminals may be watching your home at this very minute, planning their attack.
The good news is that property crime has been diminishing slightly over the past several years, according to the FBI’s report. The bad news is that a property crime occurs every 4.1 seconds in the U.S. In Fairfax County, VA alone, there were 53.22 burglary/breaking & entry crimes per 100,000 people in 2020.
Here are 5 scary signs that burglars may be watching your home.
Strangers Taking Pictures
If a stranger is taking pictures of your home and then walking away, be suspicious. Record the date and time, and any description of the person or their vehicle for future records. For your peace of mind, you could alert your local police of the incident.
Additional Traffic
If there is increased traffic that you don’t recognize—whether on foot, car or other vehicle—outside your home, this could be a red flag. This is where a security camera can come in handy. If you don’t have a security system, record any details such as a person’s looks or mannerisms. The better the description, the easier it is for law officials to take action.
Look for these suspicious signs:
- Vehicles with tinted windows parked for an extended period or frequent periods of time. These people could be monitoring your coming-and-going patterns for future reference.
- The same could be said for unknown people walking or running by your house on a regular basis. Look for signs that they pause or linger in front of your home, or if are paying particular attention to any portion of your home.
Fake Emergencies
Criminals have been known to create “emergencies” such as a broken-down car or the need to use your telephone or bathroom. They use this opportunity to look inside your home. Do not let them inside. Once inside, they can unlock a window or door, swipe items, or discover information about how to return later or what to steal.
False Solicitations
You’ve probably had people come to your door asking if you want to replace your windows or roofing, or someone claiming to be a company or government representative. You’d be surprised just how many people allow these “supposed representatives” inside their home. Although there are legitimate companies and those with official-looking credentials and uniforms, don’t take the chance to let them in. When in doubt, take their contact information and call the company to confirm at a later time. You are not obligated to let anyone inside your home.
Leave-Behinds or “Marking”
Some criminals leave flyers, newspapers or other solicitations on your doorstep or in your door handle or door to test whether anyone is at home or away. This is sometimes called "marking" a home. If these flyers remain for several days, they are ensured that nobody is home. If you’re going out of town, have a Home Watch professional or a trusted neighbor check for items left on your porch.
Trust Your Gut
We humans are gifted with what we call our “gut instinct.” If your suspicious are raised, trust that feeling and do something about it. Take notes on suspicious activity. Call the police. Keep detailed records on what you see and hear. But don’t approach the suspect or make eye contact. You don’t want to put yourself in danger if it is a criminal activity. Leave it to the authorities.
There are a number of scary signs that burglars may be watching your home, so stay vigilant and help protect your home in these ways:
- When you’re away, trust a Home Watch service like Golden Rule Home Watch & Concierge to monitor your home.
- Install a reliable security or camera system to monitor your home’s exterior.
- Use exterior and interior lighting, and motion detectors.
- Trim shrubbery away from the home to eliminate hiding places.
- Align with your neighbors to keep an eye out in the neighborhood.
- Don’t tell people on social media that you are out of town.
- Don’t let the mail, newspapers or flyers build up when you’re away.
- Don’t open the door to strangers.
Reduce Worry about Burglars Watching Your Home. Trust Golden Rule Home Watch.
If you’re worrying about burglars watching your home while you’re away, let the professionals at Golden Rule Home Watch & Concierge do what we can to thwart crime. We help to make sure your home looks lived-in and taken care of while you’re not there. And that can mean everything. Please review the list of services we offer that include HomeWatch, CarWatch and KeyWatch, and review our FAQs to learn more about what we do. Then contact us for a free no-obligation consultation.