When you think of a burglar, what comes to mind? Gone are the days of burglars in black domino masks and striped shirts, a sack of goods slung across their back. Today, burglars are wearing better, more innovative, and more advanced outfits.
Burglars usually wear everyday outfits because the goal is to blend in with society. They may wear khakis and a polo, general work clothes, or something like coveralls to indicate they are part of a team of employees working in the area.
Today, I’ll lay out what a burglar in the modern world wears. The goal in self-defense is always to be actively aware of what’s happening around you, and the more you know about your possible attackers, the better off you’ll be. Let’s get started.
A Modern Look for Burglars
Fashion is everywhere, right? Even criminals have their style, and what used to be simple black and white striped shirts and an unshaven face are now modern, everyday streetwear or business attire.
The world has gotten smarter, and burglars have too. After all, they have to keep up with the times.
With this in mind, criminals change their outfits to create a sense of safety. The goal is not to hide. Instead, the goal is to blend in.
So, what are burglars wearing in the modern world? Well, the reality is that it could be anything. It depends heavily on the following:
- The kind of neighborhood the thief is looking to steal from
- The number of people around
- The time of day (or night) the attacker is planning to strike
However, I can try to break it down to the best of my ability.
What Is the Goal of the Burglary?
First, to determine a burglar’s ideal outfit, we must look at the burglar’s goal.
Is the goal to:
- Break into an unoccupied home? This used to be the only way that thieves broke into houses.
- Get inside an occupied home?
- Sabotage rather than steal?
Ultimately, the goal determines how the burglar chooses to present himself.
Burglars Who Want To Access Unoccupied Homes
The traditional burglar, whose goal is to get inside an unoccupied home in the middle of the night, wants to blend in with the night.
With that in mind, they will likely wear dark clothes from head to toe. They may or may not also wear a mask of some sort to help diminish the skin’s glow and prevent identification. In this case, the objective is typically to get in and out with as many items as possible.
The burglar, in this situation, wants to protect himself from prying eyes. Of course, no thief wants to reveal their face, but psychological aspects such as high anxiety and fear in an overnight burglary also play heavily into the choice of clothing.
Burglars Who Want To Access Occupied Homes
A burglar who aims to get into an occupied house in the middle of the day will strategize to wear non-suspicious clothes and blend in well with normal society.
Depending on the situation, they could use different strategies.
The thief may dress in a uniform and pretend to be a part of a team of people working in the area. For example, a burglar may dress as a cable provider, utility repair person, solicitor, plumber, or door-to-door salesperson.
This approach takes forethought unless there are multiple burglars involved in the heist since it would appear somewhat suspicious if the burglar is the only person in the neighborhood in a uniform.
An excellent example of this comes from a TV show – Prison Break. If you’ve never watched it, there’s a scene where a group of criminals intending to steal a sum of money wants to enter an occupied house at midday.
The group strategizes to present itself as a team of workers who need to access the house to repair something. They enter the house through the front door by knocking and being let in by the owner. Later, they accomplish their goal of stealing the money.
Don’t let this scare you. Life isn’t a TV show, and this would be an example of a more extreme situation. However, burglars often dress up like blue-collar workers in the community to get inside the house.
Common Burglar Outfits in Today’s World
Let’s dive a little more into what a burglar might wear in today’s world.
Remember that the criminal may be wearing any of these items. It’s also essential to pay attention to the person’s behavior – there’s more to a burglar than an outfit alone.
Burglars Breaking In at Midday
A burglar breaking in or planning an attack in the middle of the day will likely wear average street clothes.
Depending on the environment, they may wear jeans and a t-shirt or khakis with a polo shirt.
In poorer communities, the burglar may even be wearing sweats with a t-shirt. They will plan accordingly for what will fit best within the neighborhood. If most people in the area wear suits, for example, the burglar may present themself in a suit.
The goal is not to look suspicious. That also includes dressing in a uniform. We’ve already covered this, but the thief would find apparel that blends in with what workers in that community wear.
Burglars Breaking In at Night
Criminals planning an attack at night have an entirely different approach than those attacking during the day. That is partly because the home’s occupants are usually either asleep or away.
The objective here is to remain completely undetected. Thus, they operate as stealthily as possible.
As discussed earlier, a burglar will likely wear dark colors in this situation. They often still wear a mask because it helps diminish the glow from the skin and assists in hiding the identity of the burglar.
There’s no specific clothing a burglar in this environment would wear apart from it being dark clothing. However, they may be more inclined to wear sweats or something similar, making running easier.
You may also notice that they wear clothes with deep pockets, which can easily fit multiple items inside them. Otherwise, they may carry black backpacks.
Final Thoughts
A burglar in the modern world wears multiple outfits that work for the objective of the burglary.
Depending on where the attacker is attempting to strike and what time of day he plans to do so, the outfit can vary wildly. He may wear regular clothing like khakis and a polo or a uniform that assists in blending in with workers in the community.
Ultimately, while it’s good to know what a burglar wears, it’s important to remember that behavior also matters. Always pay attention to suspicious behavior in other people, no matter what they wear.
