Insecure Houses

Posted by ecreal on December 16th, 2009

housing

When you are looking to buy or rent a home, you have certain requirements. Whether you list of must-haves include cathedral ceilings or a finished basement, something it should always include is security. The last thing you want to come back to is a burglarized home. Take a look at these types of houses and the risk factors that make them more likely to be burglarized.

• Townhouses.
Townhouses are designed to provide privacy to the occupants, also providing a discreet way for a burglar to enter.

• Middle Houses.
Corner houses tend to be more visible than houses in the middle of the block, making it harder for a burglar to enter the house undetected. Burglars will target houses where they can make a clean getaway.

• Tree-lined Houses.
Trees can provide easy access and more coverage for burglars. A house with climbable trees near its windows gives burglars a less obvious point of entry.

• Unlocked Houses.
An obvious entry point, unlocked doors will allow a burglar to enter the home casually without looking suspicious or give the burglar a convenient window to climb through.

• Cul-de-sac Houses.
Often cul-de-sacs are located near wooded areas, allowing for an easier escape. They are also situated away from crossroads, making for fewer neighbors to notice suspicious activity.

• Attached Garage Houses.
Attached garages usually have a door leading outside that is more often than not neglected. Burglars are aware of this and the coverage that garages provide around an entrance to the house.

• One-story Houses.
Burglars generally avoid situations where they could become trapped if someone were to come into the house. A one-story house or a house with a downstairs bedroom (a hot burglar spot) is less likely to put the burglar in a compromising situation.

• Lower Apartments.
It is a lot harder for a burglar to find a way into an apartment on an upper level of a building without being detected, but lower apartments offer windows and doors at an accessible height.

• Poorly-lit Houses.
It is hard to sneak in or out of a house that is lit up or has motion-activated lights without being given away. Burglars tend to target homes that keep them in the dark.

• Overgrown Houses.
A house with poorly maintained vegetation suggests to burglars that it is not paid close attention and that the occupant may not be very detail oriented. This is also a possible indicator of vacancy.

Living in one of these types of houses does not guarantee you will be burglarized – there are many other factors that come into play as well. However safe you believe you house is (or isn’t), things like keeping in contact with your local Neighborhood Watch group, locking your doors, and taking extra precautions when you are out of town will help to decrease your chances of being burglarized.

Source: Burglary Prevention Council. www.burglaryprevention.org.
Photo by: House Of Sims // CC BY 2.0