Having a burglar break into your home and steal your belongings can be a traumatic experience. It could also lead to feelings of vulnerability or humiliation because someone invaded the privacy of your home.
While we can’t always stop other people from acting a certain way or control their behaviors, there are certain preventative measures that can be taken to protect ourselves and our homes.
Here are some of the most commonly stolen items during burglaries, along with simple things you can do to keep your valuables safe.
Cash
This one is a no-brainer. It’s untraceable and doesn’t require any follow-up work or need to be sold afterwards. The thief just puts it in their pocket and walks away.
Don’t leave money just lying around on a table or counter where it can be easily seen. Keep it safe and out of view of windows and doorways.
Jewelry
Like cash, this is something else that’s easy to stuff in a pocket and simply walk away. Plus it’s fairly easy to sell to people looking for a bargain or to stores that buy jewelry and precious stones.
Keep your jewelry out of plain sight and locked away in a safe. If you have any really expensive pieces or family heirlooms then consider keeping them in a safe deposit box at your bank. You might also want to research home alarm systems to keep precious jewelry and valuables safe.
Electronics
Did you recently buy a brand new TV, stereo, or video game system? Thieves would love to get their hands on your expensive electronics. These items are always in demand and are fairly easy to sell.
Write down the serial numbers for your electronics. In the event that the electronics get stolen and later recovered by the police, then you’ll need the serial numbers to prove that you are the rightful owner.
Also, when buying a new electronic device, especially bigger items, break down the box into smaller pieces before putting it out to the curb for recycling or trash pickup. If a would-be intruder passes your house and notices an empty box for a smart TV just sitting on the curb waiting to be picked up, then he knows there’s a brand new TV inside and he’s going to figure out a way to get it.
Prescription Medications
Certain medications will have higher street value depending on the effects they have on the user. Some medications sell quickly on the streets and can be highly profitable.
Keep medications out of sight and locked away.
Computers and Cell Phones
Like electronics, these items are easy to steal but they can be a little harder to sell these days, considering more people keep their devices password protected and some are pretty advanced such as requiring retina scanning or facial recognition.
Nevertheless, don’t leave these items sitting near a window or in line of sight. Most modern devices have some level of security and password protection so make sure you use it. If your mobile device includes some form of GPS or tracking software then make sure it’s enabled.
Guns
For obvious reasons, guns have high street value and are easy to sell to those operating outside of the law.
Keep your guns locked away in a safe, the bigger and sturdier the better. This is especially true if you have a collection of guns. Invest in a large heavy safe to protect your valuables and ensure they don’t end up on the streets.
Personal Information and Paperwork
This could include sensitive and private information such as your social security number, credit card information, and birth certificates, etc.
Keep your personal information in a safe and secure place. Get a small safe for your home or store them in a safe deposit box at the bank. If you have paperwork with personal information that doesn’t need to be saved then shred it. Don’t throw it away in the garbage, where it can be stolen. Shred it so that it’s properly destroyed.
