If you wanted to take advice from someone really ‘in the know’ about protecting your home or business premises, who might be best placed to help?
As counter-intuitive as it may sound, how about speaking to a burglar? - someone experienced at breaking into countless properties of varying size and description.
Recently, a former self-confessed thief, Jenny Radcliffe gave an interview to a national newspaper, explaining ‘the tricks of the trade’. Whether it was a house or a high-rise office block, from the narrative, it was clear she’d made quite a success of her burgling career – and it certainly wasn’t all about smash and grab. She would often walk in as cool as a cucumber with a coffee in hand or carrying office files!
However, today, Jenny is no longer planning her next heist.
Instead, she’s the poacher turned gamekeeper, helping businesses test their security systems and arrangements. In the course of her official employment duties, it’s meant scaling a few fences and scarpering from security guards.
Despite this, she’s still very much at large. We felt her engaging story was worthy of recounting to our readers, since it provides some really useful first-hand tips as on measures we can all take to stay one step ahead of burglars – rather than having them being one step ahead of us.
1. Watch What You Share on Social Media
With social media being such an integral part of everyday life, it can be both a blessing and a curse. Certainly, a blessing for the criminal community, Radcliffe said. People use social media to talk openly about their daily lives, often providing priceless information about their day-to-day routines. “People don’t realise that your online life is connected to your physical property.” Jenny pointed out. “Every time we go on holiday, we post about it on social media. You wouldn’t have a sign on your front door saying ‘this house is unoccupied’ but we do in the digital realm.”
She continued, “Burglars trawl through community Facebook pages looking for details about people. Someone can very easily start putting patterns or weaknesses together and it’s just a case of making yourself a harder target than that. Don’t make yourself the easiest target in your area.”
Mums and Dads on the school run, take note - “Every September, parents will post a photo of their child in their school uniform on the first day of school. You are basically telling the world, ‘I will be out of my house every day between these hours’. Don’t show people your routine.” is Radcliffe’s advice.
She also warned against using social media that required tracking, such as Strava and BeReal, since it revealed information about routines at specific times.
2. Ensure Your CCTV System Isn’t Hacked
Whilst doorbell cameras were extremely useful at checking on someone’s identity as they approach a property, some were susceptible to being hacked, the ex-burglar revealed. This was because information could be tracked and shared by providers, meaning that any connected device can be hacked.
Radcliffe said that as long as the CCTV systems’ security and privacy was kept closely guarded, they offered a reasonable level of protection. Even so, “They shouldn’t be seen as a substitute for alarms, other cautions and general common sense. Remember, burglars hate being slowed down, being noisy and being seen so anything that does one or all of these is very welcome.”
3. Could You Break in to Your Own Home?
Radcliffe said that burglars often drive around keeping an eye out for properties that looked a good break-in target.
Common mistakes include leaving tools and equipment lying around in full view.
“I’ve seen houses where they have left ladders outside or unlocked garages full of equipment that could be used to break in.”
As bizarre as it might sound, Jenny said householders should test themselves by pretending to lock themselves out of their own homes. “Try to break in just with what’s around you and see if there’s anything that you could use.” Finding so-called ‘operational openings’, like weak locks or windows, is a good wake-up call to where a property’s security vulnerability should be tightened.
4. Take Care Who Has Your House Keys
Radcliffe said that whenever she moved home, she made a list of who had access to the new keys and would only hand them out to complete strangers, like cleaners, once she had their complete trust. To assist with this, it was worth checking people out online where possible – and always getting a reference prior to handing over any keys. “Then I will make sure to tell a neighbour that someone will be in the house and won’t leave them alone in the house for a while.” Jenny recommended.
5. Keep Using the Basic Burglar Deterrents
Keeping one step ahead of a burglar was also paramount. Giving the impression that an empty property was occupied was an effective deterrent. “Having a table light on a timer whilst you are out of the house is a good idea.” Radclifee suggested. Another way to throw someone off the scent would be by leaving a fake key under the doormat. The aim of a burglar was to be in and out of a property as quickly as possible. Creating any effective type of stalling tactic would most likely send them away empty-handed.
6. Don’t Make Your Garden an Easy Place to Hide
Radcliffe made the point that trespassers always appreciated a place to keep out of sight before breaking into a house or as part of the getaway. Unfortunately, having a tree-lined perimeter of the house or an unlocked shed provided perfect hiding places.
Investing in a gravel driveway and having an automatic lighting systems are good ways to deter would-be thieves, as it makes access to the property much more challenging. “They don’t want to be seen or heard. You have to make it a pain in the neck for them.” Jenny explained.
Since the 1980s, Justice Fire & Security have been designing, installing and maintaining gold standard intruder alarms and security and fire safety systems for homeowners throughout Birmingham, the wider West Midlands and Warwickshire, as well as Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. If you have any concerns about your current home security arrangements, we are at your service. For all enquiries, contact our main switchboard on 0845 468 9077.
