Hillbrook Neighborhood Association

BURGALRY INMATE SHARES HIS "TRICKS" OF THE TRADE WITH GROUP

Nov 19, 2000

At a recent meeting of Neighborhood Association coordinators, an inmate who is currently serving time for breaking and entering shared with the group some of the "tricks of the trade".

BURGLAR TIPS:
1. He looked for mailboxes with the full name of the occupant. He would then call several times to see if you were home.

2. He looked for houses that did not have a dog

3. He would "scope your activity out". Your traffic patterns.

4. Items collecting in the driveway- newspapers

5. Garage doors. Burglars buy a universal remote and enter your home thru the garage

6. Houses with large obstructive shrubs

7. Houses in new neighborhoods- Owners are away at work working to pay for their new homes

8. Houses setting off the road and lots with wooded areas( Great to hide in and watch homeowners)

ITEMS MOST OFTEN TAKEN IN HOME BREAK-INS:

1. Money- often hid in bedroom
2. Jewelry- Often in bedroom
3. Prescription medications
Average time a Burglar spends in a house: 5 Minutes
Will NOT take electronics. To hard to get rid of since they are often engraved with serial numbers or indentification numbers.

Noise deters the criminal
Video equipment deters the criminal

Burglar is often male and has female accomplice who drives the vehicle.
Vehicle used in burglary often has altered plates or a dealer drive out tag.
The burglars vehicle is backed in not pulled in.
Burglar lives less than 2 miles from targeted property.