Safer Street

The burglar's view

Bob Turney - reformed burglar

Bob Turney - reformed burglar

Bob Turney is a reformed burglar who in his youth committed household burglaries. This was until he transformed his life 26 years ago to become a published author and a respected home security expert.

Bob has brought his old life's experience to this project to give a unique view of our homes through the eyes of a burglar.

“Burglars are looking out for that simple opportunity - that open door or window, the key under the mat, low walls and dark alleyways that provide the perfect cover for easy access and escape.

All these things are magnets for criminals. You might as well put a sign on your front door saying ‘help yourself'.

In my experience people make it so easy for thieves, we all lead busy lives and crime is something that happens to other people, until you get home and your house is trashed. It is a truly nasty crime.

So don't make it easy for them, use a bit of common sense. Once a potential burglar meets the first sign of resistance, be it a gate, a solid-looking door or a meaty-looking padlock chances are they'll move on.

And let's not isolate ourselves. Get your neighbour to park their car in your drive when you are on holiday or pick up your post and put out your bins. Community spirit is vital.”



Through the burglar's eyes

Invitation

 

More than 10% * of people admit they often leave windows slightly open when they leave the house. Open windows and doors are an invitation to thieves. It doesn't matter if it's just for a short while, a burglar can be in and out of a property in seconds.

Elevation

 

Watch the wheelie bins, or anything else that gives a burglar a leg-up to that open window. Make sure they are secured or hidden away from opportunist eyes.

Observation

 

Burglars are like magpies. When I was a burglar I was constantly peering through windows looking for valuables like money, bank cards and jewellery that could easily be taken away. This way I could weigh up whether the rewards were worth the effort. So think about what you can see through your front window.

Temptation

 

I'd also take a stroll along a street looking outside houses for discarded boxes for all those nice new electronic items that had been bought, it's a good sign there is something tempting and expensive inside the property.

Attention

 

You don't have to turn your home into a fortress. Prickly plants and crunchy gravel look attractive, but are the bane of the burglars' life. Thorny climbers make walls difficult to get over, and stones on paths attract attention.

Now take a walk around your property and look out for weak spots or temptations that signal to a prospective burglar that your home is worth a second look. Are there any small changes that you could make that might help you feel safer?

Just the facts

  • Nearly a fifth of people (19%) fear that their home is an easy target for thieves.*
  • Over a quarter of people (27%) don't think about home security at all.*
  • 20% of people do not lock the doors and windows when they go to bed at night.*

* Research conducted with 2,592 adults online between 22nd and 29th August 2008. The survey was carried out by Redshift Ltd.

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