Burglaries are increasingly common in the United States, from experience, it can be invasively traumatizing to the homeowners who have lost their lives or valuables and had their safe places turn to horror within a few seconds. It’s often thought, ‘If only we had a few seconds of a heads-up before a burglary occurred’… will this make a difference though?
An average burglar can break into someone’s house in approximately 20 seconds to a minute; through doors in 7 seconds, windows in 3 seconds, and garage doors in 6 seconds! If Burglars are not pros at picking your locks, then they’re kicking or smashing down the doors or windows, or using a ladder or climbing into a tree to access your home.
This article will explore the usual time burglars take to break into someone’s home, whether they break in while you’re home, the most common entry points for burglars, the typical signs that burglars have been targeting your home, and tips to prevent burglary. If you want to learn more, keep reading.
How Long It Takes To Break Into Your Home Through Each Potential Entrance
Here are the most common entry points for burglars when they break into a house:
- Front door: FBI statistics show that 34% of burglaries occurred using the front door of a house. Chances are, if the burglar found the key under the doormat or a weak point on your door, he can unlock the door within seconds to a minute. If a burglar is a locksmith or has that expertise (which they likely will), they can open the door in as fast as seven seconds. (This is according to expert locksmiths)
- Back door: The same tactic goes for your house’s back door. Burglars prefer using the front door more than the one at the back (22%).
- Windows: Depending on the type of material used in your window, burglars can either open it or smash it with a spark plug or their bare hands in as fast as three seconds.
- Garage doors: While burglaries happen through the garage door only 9% of the time, it only takes as few as six seconds for them to open the garage door.
- Trees: If your second-floor window or access point is near a tree, burglars might access your home by climbing a tree. It would probably take them several minutes to reach the window through the tree. Once they reach the level where they can open a window, it will only take seconds to a minute to open it.
Other areas where burglars can enter your property include:
- Gates
- Basements
- Storage areas
- Secondary doors
Do Burglars Break In When You Are Home?
Burglars usually break into a house when no one is home. FBI statistics have pointed out that most burglars assume that people will be out of their homes for work or school during the day.
On a related matter, according to the same FBI statistics, 28% of all burglaries reported in the United States occur while someone is in the house burglars are breaking into.
What Time Do Burglars Usually Break Into a House?
According to FBI statistics, most burglars break into houses between 12 PM and 4 PM. In similar research by Jacksonville State University, the majority of home burglary cases happen between 10 AM and 3 PM.
An investigative report by KGW8 News found that burglars prefer breaking in between 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM to ensure that anyone home for lunch should have left and that most children are still at school.
Apart from people out of their houses, here are other reasons why burglars prefer a daytime break-in, as explained by Calder Security:
- Burglars know that most people follow their weekly schedule. Therefore, it will be easy for them to monitor or predict people’s movements and routines.
- Burglars are aware that breaking into a house during nighttime will arouse suspicion. If they do their illegal activity during the daytime, they can easily find a reason or alibi explaining why they are on someone’s property.
- Most people tend to believe that there is a high chance that burglaries happen during nighttime, so they are a bit less cautious during the daytime. They tend to keep their doors or windows unlocked whenever they leave their house.
Signs Burglars Are Targeting Your House
Here are some of the signs burglars are eyeing to break into your house:
- An unfamiliar car is roaming around your neighborhood, and that car is parked near your home for a more extended period.
- Strangers pretending to conduct a survey or door-to-door selling are walking in your area. You may also notice increased joggers running around your property, but you do not know them.
- Unfamiliar people are randomly taking photos of your house.
- Burglars targeting your home will leave flyers at your front door to see if anyone is inside your house.
- Simple markings have been placed on the sidewalk in front of the targeted house. Those markings could indicate whether to break into that property or avoid it.
- An unfamiliar person would come to your house, tell you there has been an emergency, and ask if he can come inside your place to use your telephone.
- Burglars may call your phone number to check if anyone is inside the house they’re trying to target.
- They put clear adhesive tape over the keyhole of your front door to know whether someone is inside the house and the schedule of the people within your household.
Other Things Burglars Do or Notice in Targeting Your Property
Apart from those mentioned above, here are some of the things burglars do or notice before breaking into someone’s house:
- Burglars are monitoring the social media accounts of homeowners to see if they are out on vacation.
- They check your house to see if it has security systems or alarms. They also take note if your security systems have been damaged.
- Burglars tend to remove or destroy the light bulbs installed outside your home.
- They also notice that your trash cans, newspapers, or packages are left outside your home.
- Your house looks neglected or damaged, including an unkempt lawn or broken fences.
- Your house is located in an area with low visibility or in the middle of the street.
How To Prevent Burglaries From Happening to Your Home
They always say “prevention is better than cure,” so we are giving you several tips for preventing your house from becoming a target for burglars:
- Invest in security systems and devices, including CCTV cameras and alarms. They are one of the best deterrents against burglars and other criminals.
- Place your valuables in a hidden place or a safe. Ensure that only members of your household know the location of these items.
- Set a timer for the lights in your home.
- Reinforce your doors and windows to prevent thieves’ forcible entry into your house.
- Store your ladders in the basement or garage to prevent burglars from using them to access your home through your windows.
- If you are going to be out of your home for an extended period of time, ask your most trusted neighbor to clear the trash bins or receive packages on your behalf. That way, burglars might think that you’re around and will have second thoughts about breaking into your home.
- Be vigilant about what you post on your social media accounts. Burglars might be monitoring your online posts and statuses, which might give them a hint that you’re not at home.
- Take note of any unfamiliar person who is knocking on your door. If you feel that they are suspicious, call for police assistance.
Final Thoughts
It would only take seconds to minutes for burglars to break into someone’s home, especially if the doors and windows are unlocked or if there is easy access to them, like a climbable tree or a ladder that they can utilize.
Check for signs that burglars use in targeting your home. If you see any of these signs, ask for police assistance. You may also tip your neighbors about this so all of you will be vigilant in preventing burglaries from happening in your area.
