One snippet of information released by the police crime unit should make householders prick up their ears and take notice. It seems that households that have experienced a burglary have a very good chance of a repeat performance several months later.
In a way, that stands to reason. During the initial burglary the culprit has made off with valuable items ranging from cameras to plasma screen TV's. Logic suggests that after the Insurance company has settled the claim the householder has replaced those items with new - virtually guaranteeing a returning burglar a lucrative swag of loot.
This information would cause many to think in terms of turning their home into a fortress - but that also presents problems. Bars on windows and deadlocks on doors may help to keep an intruder out, but they can also turn the home into a death trap in the event of a fire. There is no safety factor in fumbling for keys in a smoke filled house.
House alarms are another option - but then think about the alarms every householder hears from time to time - motion alarms in homes nearby and car alarms that may be activated by a gust of wind. Do you see other neighbours rushing to catch the burglar ? Of course not ! The usual response is to assume that somebody forgot to put the cat out when they left - or that the alarm had a faulty operating switch.
These days you are more likely to be sued by the burglar who claims that the screeching siren gave him or her a migraine !
The best defence for any home owner is a good relationship with neighbours - who take note of suspicious car numbers in the street and challenge any person on your property by being seen by the intruder. Few burglars will proceed if they know that they have been observed by an alert neighbour.
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