12 Ways on How to Find Out if a House Has Been Burgled
As a homeowner, you may occasionally look around and feel like something’s off. Unless it’s obvious what’s missing, it can be difficult knowing if your house has been burgled. There are, however, clear signs that a house is or has been targeted. It’s unlikely an intruder eliminates all evidence of their visit.
Here are some ideas on how to find out if a house has been burgled:
1. Footprints
It sounds silly but burglars don’t realize they can when they come in from outside, footprints accompany them. If it’s rained, if there’s moisture on the ground, or if they’re tracking in mud, what’s left behind may be faint but it’s evidence someone’s been inside your home. Note any suspicious footprints outdoors as well.
2. Ask a Neighbor
Asking your neighbors is an easy way on how to find out if a house has been burgled. If you’re on friendly terms with your neighbor, ask them if they’ve noticed anyone strange in the neighborhood or parked at your home.
If you’re going away for a vacation, it’s smart to let a neighbor know. By giving them a heads up and asking them to watch over your property, a neighbor might see something and be able to catch them in the act by calling the police.
3. Time of Day
The most likely time of day that a home will be burgled is not during the night like some homeowners may think. It’s mid-morning through to mid-afternoon. This is when people are running errands and not likely to be home. Consider this when thinking about if a burglary is possible.
4. Doors And Windows
A third of all burglars will enter through the front door, a fifth by the back door, and a quarter through a window. If you arrive home and find your door unlocked, or your window’s partially open and/or unlocked, or if anything is suspicious about the status of the locks on your door or windows, it’s possible someone’s broken into your home.
5. Set Up A Trap
Once again, focusing on doors and windows, set up traps. A tennis ball behind the door, some flour gently sprinkled in front of your window, or hair strategically placed in select areas around doors and windows all work.
This way, when you arrive home and see fingerprints, the hair’s removed, or the tennis ball has been moved, you know someone who wasn’t you was home.
6. Spare Key is Missing
Canvassing your home, it’s not difficult to find the spare key. If you notice anything strange regarding where the key is placed, if your welcome mat’s been moved, or if you even just get a bad feeling like something’s off, trust what you’re seeing. It’s not just something to forget. It is potentially a sign someone’s been by.
7. Missing Property Or Misplaced Items
When an item is missing, you know for a fact that something’s been misplaced, or is not as you remember it, you might suspect a burglary has taken place. Consider it. Look for other signs included on this list. Be careful not to lobby any accusations towards anyone. Focus on determining whether or not there’s been a burglary.
8. Home Video Surveillance
You can’t argue with video. This requires you to have previously installed smart home video surveillance or to have a more classic home security camera setup. Either way, video can be tapped into to provide confirmation that someone’s been inside your home. Note that surveillance can be set up indoors or outdoors, with one or multiple cameras.
9. Strange Markings or Stickers
Burglars don’t always work alone. They sometimes have a partner or work in groups. They often scout homes before committing a burglary. The homes that have potential in their eyes are marked with a sticker somewhere, chalk markings in front of the driveway, or something as innocent as a flyer in the mailbox.
10. Motion Sensor Monitoring
The more smart home security devices you have connected together in your home, the more likely you will come across evidence that someone’s broken in. Motion sensors work in doors, windows, or hallways, and will record any time movement occurs. You can refer back to these records if you suspect there was someone in your home when you weren’t there.
11. Odd Vehicles On the Street
If you or neighbors have noticed unfamiliar vehicles parked on your street or a nearby street, it may be a sign a burglary was in process. This is why when a vehicle shows up repeatedly or is parked long-term in a spot for a day or so, note the license plate and write down any info, including the make of the vehicle, time, date, etc.
12. Contact Local Police
Local law enforcement has all the details on if your neighborhood’s had other burglaries or if there have been similar burglaries in your local area. When in doubt, contact the police.
Give them any information you have. They may not be able to do anything with it immediately, though if multiple people report suspicious activities or strange people hanging around, there’s a better chance you could at least prevent a future burglary.
