Professional Burglar Shares Crime Prevention Tips

A man believed to be responsible for as many as 70 burglaries has offered police in the United Kingdom a list of tips which he suggests should be shared with homeowners, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Leon Reid, 32, was sentenced last week to five years in prison after DNA evidence was used to implicate him in two South London burglaries. Before being jailed, Reid gave police a burglary checklist which he suggested be added to crime prevention brochures.

The checklist explains what burglars look for in a home and what homeowners can do to avoid being burglarized. Reid, who police say never used force to enter a home, offered the following suggestions:

• Get a dog or a sign warning of a dog on the premises. Reid said burglars will not risk entry if a dog is likely to be in the house.
• Use an alarm. Reid said he would never enter a home with an alarm.
• Leave the lights on when away from the house. Reid told police he avoided well-lit homes. Reid advised homeowners to use motion-activated lights.
• Install a security camera. According to Reid, a camera -- even if it is fake -- is normally enough to make burglars choose another target.

Reid also indicated that he avoided homes with pebbled walkways, driveways or patios because walking across such surfaces is very noisy.

The offers several additional tips to reduce your likelihood of becoming a victim of property crime:

• Keep doors and windows locked. Do not hide house keys outside of your home. Burglars are familiar with the most common locations in which keys are hidden.
• Remind neighbors to call the police immediately if they see any suspicious activity at your home.
• Keep shrubbery and trees trimmed. Overgrown trees and shrubbery can provide burglars with a hiding place.
• When away from home, use a timer to activate interior lights at various times to give your home the appearance of being occupied.
• If you are going to be away from home for several days, arrange to have your mail and newspaper delivery stopped or ask a trusted friend or neighbor to retrieve your mail and paper each day.