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Welcome to part 2 of our series on Home Security Tips from Burglars.  Click here to read part 1.

In this series, we are hearing from actual burglars to find out what they think when they burglarize home. We’ve pulled these tips from a video titled: WATCH: Convicted burglars explain how to prevent them from breaking into your home. Please click here to view the whole thing.

• The burglar will look to see if there is a car in the driveway, knock on the door, listen for sounds, watch for lights coming on, look for wires that may indicate an alarm system, listen for a dog and look inside to see if anyone is home.
• If the burglar can look through the window and see something expensive (such as a stereo system or jewelry), they will be more motivated to break in.
• If the home owner has things dead bolted and has an alarm system, the burglar will not want to take the time to break in, especially if the burglar cannot see inside the home and does not know whether or not something is in there worth taking.
• Older people are more of a target than younger people, because they are easier to burglarize and get away with it. 
• Many people think second story windows are not vulnerable, but those windows should be locked and wired as well.  Burglars can climb up to those windows.
• Burglars will enter through basement windows, so these should be secured as well.
• Most burglaries are opportunistic and random, rather than calculated.
• If a burglar knocks on the door and realizes that there are just a couple of people at home, he may go down the street and wait for them to leave the house.
• A burglar may look for a window air conditioner, because these are easy to pull out and then enter through that window.

Please watch the whole video to hear more from burglars who explain what goes on in the mind of a crook.

Welcome to part 2 of our series on Home Security Tips from Burglars.  Click here to read part 1.

In this series, we are hearing from actual burglars to find out what they think when they burglarize home.  We’ve pulled these tips from a video titled: WATCH: Convicted burglars explain how to prevent them from breaking into your home. Please click here to view the whole thing.

·         The burglar will look to see if there is a car in the driveway, knock on the door, listen for sounds, watch for lights coming on, look for wires that may indicate an alarm system, listen for a dog and look inside to see if anyone is home.

·         If the burglar can look through the window and see something expensive (such as a stereo system or jewelry), they will be more motivated to break in.

·         If the home owner has things dead bolted and has an alarm system, the burglar will not want to take the time to break in, especially if the burglar cannot see inside the home and does not know whether or not something is in there worth taking.

·         Older people are more of a target than younger people, because they are easier to burglarize and get away with it.

·         Many people think second story windows are not vulnerable, but those windows should be locked and wired as well.  Burglars can climb up to those windows.

·         Burglars will enter through basement windows, so these should be secured as well.

·         Most burglaries are opportunistic and random, rather than calculated.

·         If a burglar knocks on the door and realizes that there are just a couple of people at home, he may go down the street and wait for them to leave the house.

·         A burglar may look for a window air conditioner, because these are easy to pull out and then enter through that window.

Please watch the whole video to hear more from burglars who explain what goes on in the mind of a crook.

Keywords: Home security Coronado, home alarm system Coronado, security system Coronado,

Ever wonder what goes through the mind of a burglar? Now you do not have to wonder. Keep reading to find out what burglars look for and think about when they break into your home!

1. Burglars do not usually dress all in black with a mask. They will dress like a normal person, maybe a service worker such as an electrician or a landscaper. They are often out between the hours of 8am and 11am.¹

What you can do: Never allow a service worker into your home without asking to see their identification. If you are in doubt, call the company to confirm their employment and schedule.

2. Burglars prefer to break into homes with lots of landscaping obscuring the doors and windows. This gives them plenty of places to hide while they break in and then make their exit.

What you can do: Give your landscaping a facelift. Prune back large and unruly bushes and trees. Make your home less desirable to burglars by reducing the places they can hide.

3. Burglars knock on doors. Surprised by this one? It’s true. What better way to find out if someone is home than by simply knocking. If no one answers, they can kick down the door and walk right in.

What you can do: Install kick plates, reinforced door frames and dead bolts on your doors to make it harder to kick in the door.²

4. Burglars enter through unlocked doors. This seems so simple and obvious that it should not need to be mentioned. However, according to this report, "You'd be surprised how many people leave something unlocked too, like a backdoor or a sliding glass door. You walk around the back of the house, you'd be surprised how many times you can just walk right in,"³

What you can do: You guessed it, lock your doors and your windows. Keep them locked as much as possible, but especially when you are not home.

^{1 http://simplisafe.com/blog/burglar-reveals-15-trade-secrets-look-mind-burglar
2 http://www.actiosecurity.com/inside-mind-burglar/
3 http://www.wthr.com/article/inside-the-mind-of-a-criminal-preventing-home-burglaries}

As students return to school all over the country, parents understandably become concerned about their children’s safety.

Not being with your children for several hours each day means you cannot oversee them and directly protect them. But there are several things you can do to help them be safer and smarter about their own safety.

1. Do not leave your children at the bus stop alone. Predators know the morning hours are ideal times to find children alone and may take advantage of this opportunity. Make sure at least one adult is waiting with children at the bus stop. Consider arranging a rotation with other trusted parents in your neighborhood.

2. Find out about the security protocol at your child’s school. Is there a robust visitor management system in place? Is there a security guard on patrol? With the number of school crimes happening, high security is critical. If your child’s school is not equipped with adequate security protocols, start a movement with your school administration to increase the level of security.

3. Does your child spend time at home alone after school? If so, this is a time when they are vulnerable. If your child walks or rides a bicycle home, make sure they come straight home and do not make unplanned stops along the way.

Once they get home, they should go directly inside and lock the doors and then open them for no one except people preapproved by you. It is also a good idea to keep the window shades drawn, and this prevents possible predators from looking in the windows.

4. Teach your child about bullying. Bullying is a very real threat with today’s youth, and the more your children are informed about its many forms and the more you talk about it with them, the more likely they will be to come to you if they detect it in their lives.