When you think of a burglar breaking into a house, what comes to mind? Do they break in using a small set of professional lockpicks? Or are they breaking a window with their elbow to force their way inside? Those are the images that Hollywood has instilled in us, but the reality is much more mundane. And in fact, they are much more likely to use something of yours to gain entry. So let’s set the record straight – how exactly do burglars get into your home?

The Front Door

Did you know that 34% of burglars will simply open your front door and walk on it? Scary, but true! Even when the door is locked there are ways that burglars can force the lock open. Or if they’re really clever they can find where you hide your spare key (believe us they know all the tricks). That’s one of the reasons CCV and Ring Doorbells are so important – they deter burglars from using their simplest entry methods because it risks them being identified.

Wheelie Bins

If you keep your wheelie bins in an easy-to-access place, burglars will use them as stepping stones to get to the upper floors of your home. Many people don’t think to properly lock their upstairs windows with the keys every time they go out – they just close and latch them. So if a burglar can climb onto a wheelie bin and push an upstairs window open easily, they will.

Pet Doors

Cat and dog flaps are invitations for burglars because even if you lock your door, you probably don’t lock the cat flap. How? Well, remember that not every burglar is 6 foot 2 and 200 lbs. Many are small and flexible enough to fit themselves through a generously sized dog door, or at the very least thread an arm inside so that they can open the door from the inside. And remember, the less obvious their entry method, the better for them, so they will look for things like this.

Climbing Fences

Just like the wheelie bins, fencing can provide the perfect ladder into your property. From the top of your fence, they can break or force a window and get inside. It’s even easier for them if your fence goes all the way up to the wall of your house, or if you have a trellis they can climb. The same goes for brick walls, wire fences and even dense hedges. Anything that can be climbed is a security risk.

Using Your Tools

If you’re one of those people who leave your shed unlocked, or has a very old rusty padlock on it, then a burglar will likely take a look inside. Not only for things to steal (because tools are very valuable and easy to sell since they are difficult to trace), but for things to help them break into your home. A common method is finding a spade and jamming it under a set of patio doors, then stamping on the handle to pop the door out of its frame. In just a few seconds, they’ve gained entry to your home and you’ve given them the tools to do it.

If you book a free security review with Securifix, these are the kinds of things we look for. We don’t look at lights and cameras – we look at all of the little things in and around your property that could present an opportunity to a thief. If you’d like to know more, why not book one of our free, no-obligation audits? Just click here to get in touch with the team today.