From The Opportunist to Your Little Sister – you can stop burglars in their tracks

There are a lot of bad guys out there and we all need to watch out so we don’t fall victim to theft. You can’t be vigilant, and practice situational awareness, if you don’t know what to look for. Thanks to the team at Simplisafe for this great infographic.

Here’s a who’s who of common criminal types and how to stop them.

The Opportunist –

Warmer weather usually means an increase in reported “opportunity thefts”. These people will swipe anything left unattended – even for a minute.

Protect Yourself by:

• Lock it up if you can.
• Keep a close eye on your belongings while in crowds.
• Neighborhood watch or alarm company signs and stickers may deter them.

The Distractors –

Working in teams, these thieves will often split up – one at the front door to distract, while the other one sneaks into your yard or house.

Protect yourself by:

• Check ID’s of all unknown visitors.
• Don’t open the door if you’re not sure.

The Carjacker –

Improved auto security systems have made cars more difficult to steel – so violent criminals have turned to carjacking as an alternative.

Protect yourself by:

• Park in well-lit areas.
• Be aware of surroundings when entering your car.
• Never leave valuables in plain sight.
• Consider an anti-theft alarm with an ignition shut off switch.

The Identity Thief –

Identity thieves are chameleon’s. They can hang around the alleyways of the internet and pick your pocket when you least expect it. Beware of those attempting to imitate a trusty institution (IE: your bank) and other phishing scams.

Protect yourself by:

• Have anti-virus and spyware on your computer. Make sure it’s up to date.
• Never click on links in pop-up windows or in spam emails.
• Be sure to log out of your account, especially in public places.

The Professional Burglar –

These guys know what they’re doing and can me in and out of your house in less than ten minutes. They prey on places with poor security and houses that are vacant because the owners are on vacation.

Protect yourself by:

• Notify the police department if you will be out of town for an extended period of time.
• Have your mail stopped or have a trusted friend collect it for you.
• Have a friend move your car so it looks like you’re coming and going.

The Actor –

Similar to the distractor, these criminals will pose as utility workers or door to door salesmen. They prey on the elderly and overly trusting.

Protect yourself by:

• Think – are you expecting anyone to come to your home?
• Ask to see ID and look for a company logo on their clothing.
• Call to verify with the company before you let them enter.

AND on the lighter side

The Co-Worker –

We’ve all been there, you’re lovingly prepared a beautiful and healthy lunch, only to open the frig at work and find it missing.

Protect yourself by:

• Ditch the brown bag and use an expired margarine dish or casserole box.
• Mark your bag with a firm, but polite note.
• Continued theft may require more drastic measures. Consider mousetraps and decoys.

The Younger Sibling:

Sometimes theft is right under your nose without you even realizing it. This thief particularly likes clothes, hidden money and CD’s.

Protect yourself by:

• “Keep out” or else signs
• Lock your door when away
• Turn around is fair play
• Get your parents involved

 

 

Burglars: The Encyclopedia of Burglar Types [Infographic] by the team at Simplisafe