Former Thief: Tight-Knit Neighbors Make the Best Home Security
You may have seen television programs in which former thieves explain how they used to break into homes. They go on to offer advice to homeowners about how they can better protect themselves. Now, a local television station in Memphis, Tennessee has put together a report based on the same topic. According to the former thief they spoke with, tight-knit neighbors offer the best home security around.
The man, whose name is William Golden, began burglarizing homes as a teenager. He says it quickly became an 'addiction' in the sense that burglary was a very financially attractive proposition. He was eventually caught, prosecuted, and spent time in jail for his crimes. Now he has turned things around by teaching others how to be safe.
It's All about the Neighborhood
In a recent TV news report, Golden walked around one of the many Memphis neighborhoods he used to target along with a news crew in tow. He pointed out various aspects of that neighborhood that would make burglary either easier or harder. One of the more surprising things he talked about was blight.
Golden pointed out how urban blight creates a lot of great hiding places for burglars and other criminals. They can also hide the items they steal in abandoned homes or outbuildings until things settle now enough to fetch the stolen goods. Ironically, though, Goldman also said that tight-knit neighbors watching out for each other were the best weapon against crime.
Golden himself was identified by neighbors who spotted him and reported him to police. For a long time, he had depended on people not paying attention to allow him to continue his career in crime. And for a long time, neighbors cooperated. But that strategy finally caught with him and brought an end to his criminal activity.
Other Things You Can Do
During his walk through the neighborhoods, Golden made a point of showing reporters a few additional key things. First, he said dogs and tall windows are good deterrents. Dogs make noise and can be violent in some cases, while tall windows that are hard to break make the thief's life more difficult. Golden even mentioned something as simple as turning blinds up rather than down.
Blinds turned down are a lot easier to see through than those turned up. So he recommends leaving blinds closed and turning the blades upward. He mentioned putting a heavy-duty lock on the circuit breaker box to prevent power from being cut. Golden went so far as to encourage people to install fencing with spikes and wires. He claims burglars don't want to risk cutting or scraping themselves and leaving DNA evidence behind.
Lastly, Goldman said that alarm systems and cameras do work. This is something security companies have maintained for quite a while, so it was nice to hear a former professional verify it. Alarms and cameras work as deterrents by increasing the chances that a burglar will be caught. And really, deterrence is what preventing burglary is all about.
Uxari, a Florida-based provider of wireless DIY home security systems, says that just a few carefully placed video surveillance cameras can make a big difference when coupled with 24-hour home security monitoring. They say a burglar is more likely to target another home if the first choice is protected by home security with video cameras.
According to at least one former pro, a close-knit neighborhood is the best defense against burglary. Wireless home security is right up there with good neighbors, making it more difficult for burglars to do what they do.