Do Burglars Always Return to the Scene of the Crime?

If the common plot perpetrated on tv crime dramas and movies hold any truth, burglars always return to the scene of the crime. But does the story hold true in real life or is it just an urban myth?

Yes, Burglars Do Return

It might seem counter intuitive but statistics show that burglars do indeed return, and not only that- they are likely to return for your neighbor’s stuff, too. According to the Police Foundation, burglars very often do come back and once a burglary occurs, houses in the neighborhood are also at a much higher risk of burglary over the next two weeks.  Usually, the crime is committed by the same person, but not always. In some cases, your home may be burgled again because a different criminal finds the home attractive for the same reasons, such as a lack of lighting and no visible signs of having a security alarm system.

Why Do Burglars Return?

It might seem like a waste of time for a burglar to come back after they have already cleaned out your house, but there are some logical reasons why they return.

• They know your security measures. Once in your home, the burglar knows all of your security measures or lack of them, and know the level of difficulty in gaining entranced to your home.
• They are familiar with the layout of your home. Knowing the layout of your home is a huge advantage because it saves them time the nest time they attempt to burglarize your home.
• They found a way to make it easier for themselves. While in your hoe the first time, they may have found a way to make it easier to get in the second time, such as taking a spare key or unlocking the most forgotten window.
• You have probably replaced valuable items. Burglars often wait 6 to 8 weeks to return. This gives you enough time to make an insurance claim and then replace the essential items. If the items were costly, the burglar assumes you will replaced it with and an equally expensive item.
• You are not expecting it. A burglar knows that after a burglary you are off kilter, emotionally vulnerable, and not expecting them to come again any time soon.
• They found a buyer. There may be items the burglar could not take at the time, but made note of it. Once they find a buyer, they come back for the goods.

Make Sure You’re Ready

If you have been burglarized, you know just how cunning thieves can be, and just how important it is to invest in home security. Talk to a home security expert and find out how to reduce your home’s vulnerabilities and which home security technologies would be most beneficial. Features such as a monitored security alarm system, smart locks, video surveillance, and home automation can decrease the likelihood of being burglarized. Polled thieves report that they are far less likely to target a home with visible security.

Security that outsmarts the criminals. Service that outshines competitors. Brinton Security.