Why No Burglar Alarms On The Second Floor… Burglars Are Lazy!
If you’re a fan of gangster films and cop shows, you’ve probably heard the term “second story man.” It’s basically another name for “cat burglar” and implies that the professional thief prefers to circumvent his target’s conventional ground floor security measures (locks, window and door sensors, motion detectors, CCTV cameras, etc.) by gaining access through an upstairs door or window. The very existence of this term suggests widespread practice although, in reality, home security consultants report that second story break-ins only account for a measly 2% of home burglaries. That said, who wants to be part of this year’s 2%?
Burglars Are Opportunists
When performing a home security assessment, one of the first things your home security consultant looks at is your home’s exterior. When it comes to preventing second floor break-ins, home security consultants look for items that are either attached or in close proximity to your home that could be used by an opportunistic burglar to gain access to your upstairs windows or doors. For instance, a workman’s ladder leaning against your house, a fire escape, or even lattice work may be seen as an open invitation to do a little exploring in your upstairs.
Thinking About Impromptu Burglary Tools
Do you leave your lawn furniture outside overnight or when you’re not home? If so, it may surprise you to know that picnic tables are sometimes dragged up to the side of houses and used as impromptu burglary ladders. Depending on the height of your home’s roofline, you may not want to park any large vehicles too close to one of your outer walls. It’s not unusual for burglars to use their victims’ large trucks, SUVs, trailers, RVs, and campers as ladders to the second floor.
Window Air Conditioners
If you use a window-mounted air conditioner, even in an upstairs window, be sure to fix it to your window frame with the included hardware. Most people think that the weight of these units alone is enough to deter a thief from entering through the window, but criminals won’t be lifting the air conditioner; they’ll be pushing it through your window and onto your floor or yanking it out of your window and onto your lawn with little regard for its condition. Therefore, you may want to use additional hardware such as metal bars, brackets, or anything that will make it more difficult for a desperate thief to rip the AC unit out of your window.
Lock Up Before You Leave
We all know enough to lock our windows and doors before leaving our home for any length of time, but how often do you take the time to close and lock all of your upstairs windows and doors? Sometimes it’s the simple things we do (or don’t do) that have the greatest effect on our wellbeing. For more information on what you can do to improve the safety and security of your home, contact your local residential security consultants at SHIELD® Security.
We Want to Hear From You!
What are some of the things you do around your property to make your home less attractive to potential thieves and criminals?
About SHIELD Security Systems:
SHIELD Security Systems of Buffalo, a franchise of The SHIELD Security Systems Franchise Development Group based in Buffalo, NY provides electronic security systems, monitoring and video surveillance for residential and commercial applications. For nearly 40 years, SHIELD Security Systems has served the WNY market offering alarm monitoring services for homes and businesses without the FREE sales gimmicks commonly advertised by other alarm companies. SHIELD has earned a solid reputation as a dependable alarm provider delivering consistent, honest value to their clients.
