Crime Prevention Tips from Criminals
. . . learning from the experts . . .

by Donnette Thayer
heavenly@pacbell.net

Several interesting studies have been done where authors interview criminals to determine their motivation for crime, and the best ways people can deter them.

Overwhelmingly, criminals commit burglaries to target an economic reward, according to the Figgie Report, Part 6 -- The Business of Crime: The Criminal Perspective, a survey that elicited opinions of crime, its causes, and preventions from 589 inmates at three correctional institutions in Ohio.

Perhaps because a large number of the burglars reported being alcohol or drug addicted (36 percent of the population reported that the majority of their crimes were drug- or alcohol-related), they suffered from economic distress -- 72.5 percent had pre-conviction annual incomes lower than $10,000.

These burglars begin learning their trade at a young age -- forty-four percent had committed their first crime between the ages of 11 and 15. They are deeply involved in a culture of crime, and feel helpless that they have no other way to make their living.

It is estimated that more than half of all crimes in America are committed by 9 percent of the criminal population. Whatever the reason that these criminals chose their careers, the rest of the 91% of us need to know how to protect ourselves from them.

Remember that burglars must sell your property in order to get their payday, and the more time and effort they expend breaking into your house, the less money they make per hour. Consequently, it’s easy to understand that the function of strong doors and locks is not to make burglary impossible but to make it more expensive for the burglar.

By increasing the skill and equipment needed by the burglar and amplifying the chances he will be detected (or injured, in the case of a dog) before finishing the job, you can see to it that burglarizing your home simply isn’t worth his time.

So what do these criminals have to say that might benefit you, a potential target?

On their own, deadbolt locks and burglar alarms not connected to a responding law enforcement agency do not significantly deter professional criminals.

What deterrents do work?

Dogs, security systems connected to responding agency, window sensors, and closed circuit TV.

Here is the complete list from the Figgie Study. The prisoners respond to the question, "How effective is each of the following likely to be in preventing burglary, breaking and entering and grand theft?"

Those in the "business of crime prevention" advise anybody living in a high-crime area to get a dog, a monitored security system -- or move.

In study after study, former burglars suggest that he seeks a quick hit— the one home on a block that presents the fewest obstacles.

(These are excerpts from a convict with the street name of Cheetah.)

If there’s no fence to hide behind, what else would you look for?
If the front door is recessed, the neighbors couldn’t see me open it. I’d get a big pair of channel-lock pliers - they’re easy to hide in your pants - and put them on the door lock and just twist. It’s real fast, in and out. Deadbolts turn too. They have a little brass ring on the outside. You turn that and it’ll get egg-shaped. Give it a half-turn and the whole mechanism will lock up and just twist right out.

So what could those people do to keep you out?
Put in two deadbolts. Breaking two locks would take me too long.

What about a NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH sign?
It wouldn’t bother me. It’s just a sign; it can’t identify me. They never intimidated me. The only thing I had to worry about was getting into the house and getting away. A lady could be out gardening and watch me walk down the street. When she turned her back, I’d disappear, and she wouldn’t be sure where I went. If she were to call her husband and say something about my being there, she wouldn’t even remember exactly where I’d been.

Would a sign from a security service keep you away?
Sure, if it’s from a reputable company. I wouldn’t mess with it. What for? Just to have the cops come? But some people put those bogus alarm signs that stores sell. Well, I’m a shopper too. I see them in the store, and I know they’re bogus.

Have you ever encountered somebody inside a house?
It happened to me a couple of times years ago, when I was younger. I’d knock on the door loudly and wait awhile, and I could usually tell if anyone was there. If someone answered, I’d just ask, "Does Bob live here?" or "Would you like your tree trimmed?" Any kind of story. Then I’d move on to another house where nobody was home.

What kinds of things are easiest to steal?
Things a burglar can put in his pockets—cash, and jewelry, mostly. If I was desperate, I’d take a VCR and run.

How long did you usually stay in a house?
Oh, I’ve been in five minutes or two hours. Heck, I’ve sat and made lunch. Once I’m in a house, I’m safe. I’ve watched police officers outside on the street writing tickets while I was hitting houses.

What about barking dogs?
I’d avoid them. It’s easier just to find another house.

What did you do if you heard music inside?
I’d stay out, usually. If I knocked on the door and got no answer but there was a radio playing, they could be home but busy. They could be in bed or taking a shower. And I’m not going to stand there for a half-hour waiting to find out.

Is there any really sure way to keep you out?
The key is, you have to make you house less inviting than your neighbors’.

Here are some other tips that you might find interesting:

Common Sense Precautions:

	Lock all doors and windows, especially when leaving the house (even for short periods)
	Don't leave keys under the mats, doorsills or on an outside nail
	If you leave your car keys with someone, don't give them the full key ring containing the house keys
	Do not carry an identification tag on your key ring
	Never leave notes outside your home advertising your absence
	Always lock and close your garage door, even if you plan to be gone only for a few minutes
	Lock all outside doors at all times, even when you are on the premises
	Keep tool shed and other out-buildings locked
	Adjust the volume on your telephone so the ring cannot be heard outside -- smart burglars may be listening when you aren't home
	Make your home look occupied when you are away for the evening by leaving on some exterior and interior lights
	Keep jewelry in a safe deposit box at your bank
	Prune shrubbery around doors and windows so a burglar cannot work undetected
	Remove objects from your yard or near the house that might conceal a burglar
	Check door moldings for tight fit
	Never keep large sums of cash or easy-to-sell valuables in your house
	For those few valuables you feel you must keep at home, find hard-to-reach or hard-to-find places to conceal them
	A dog is an excellent anti-burglar investment -- a barking dog, whether large or small, may persuade a burglar to move on

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Sources:

1. The Figgie Report Part VI. (1988). The Business of Crime: The Criminal Perspective. Willoughby, OH: Figgie International, Inc.

2. Secrets of a Superthief (2002). MacLean, J. : Barnes & Noble.

3. Motivations For Violent Crime Among Incarcerated Adults: A Consideration of Reinforcement Processes (1994) Peter B. Wood, Walter R. Gove, John K. Cochran