Repeat Burglaries: The Truth and How to Prevent

You come home, only to find your house has been burglarized. It’s miserable. But what’s worse is, you fall victim into a repeat burglary.

Do burglars strike the same house twice? What’s the likelihood of repeat burglaries? Do burglars come back after failed attempt? This post will show you how to prevent repeat residential burglary victimization.

To keep your home from becoming a target for burglars, take a look at our recent article featuring 21 effective methods to burglar-proof your residence.

Dig into the Truth behind a Repeat Burglary

“My house got robbed will they come back?”

Many of you may think that burglars never come back to the same house.

Nope! The original thief may return if he wasn’t caught the first time. Moreover, your house which has been robbed may also attract other intruders, due to its vulnerability, according to the home invasion statistics.

“Do burglars come back after first attempt fail?”

Yep! They will often make a second attempt, especially if they were interested in taking something specific that they spotted in your house the first time, and unfortunately, you haven’t upgraded your home security.

Repeat Burglary Statistics

What are the chances of your house being robbed?

In the United States, a house is burglarized, on average, every 13 seconds.  Those who have already fallen victim to this statistic, are actually more likely to be burglarized a second time.

What are the chances of a repeat burglary?

In fact, the chance of a burglar coming back is very high, and as many as one out of every three house burglary victims is a repeat victim. Unlucky victims even have an eight percent chance of being burgled two or more times again.

When does repeat burglary victimization occur?

Actually, as many as half of these repeat victims had their properties vandalized twice, within a month of one another. What time do most burglars occur? In fact, the most common hours for a burglary to occur are between 10am and 3pm during the day, which may come as a surprise to you.

How do burglars break in?

Usually, the burglars will watch a house for a period of time to find a good house to hit – the one that with mails folded in the mailbox, newspapers in the driveway, and flyers on the front door, without any signs of security cameras or lights. And that’s how burglars pick a house.

And then they will just choose an easy access to break into the home – 34% of burglars enter through the front door, 23% enter through a first floor window, and 22% use the back door.

Also Read: Home Burglary and Crime Statistics

How Come a Burglar Hit the Same House Twice

Why are repeat burglaries so prevalent? Deep research about repeat burglary (in UK, or in Perth Suburb) has been made to study this issue. There are a number of potential factors at play here:

• A burglar will take note of additional valuable items in your home that they’ll want to take
• Burglars often assume that previously stolen items will have been replaced- by insurance – within 6 weeks and will go back for a second round
• Once a burglar robs your house, he knows the layout of the home and can rummage through each room quicker the next time

But there may be something bigger at play here – curb appeal.

A home may have been burglarized the first time because it looks like a vulnerable target. Unless the vulnerabilities are addressed, your home will continue to look like a soft target.

Potential vulnerabilities that attract burglars include:

• A lack of a home security system
• No visible security cameras
• No interior/exterior lightning to thwart vandals
• Open windows during warmer weather
• Unlocked front or back doors

Do the Following to Prevent Repeat Burglary

Investigating repeat burglary cases and charges let you know more about risks of repeat victimization.

To avoid being the victim of a second house break-in, you need to review your home security measures and optimize your home security plans starting from the following:

1. Invest in Security systems and Cameras

A good security camera is speak louder than anything else. The biggest thwart to burglars is a security system and camera. This is particularly true for homes that have already been burglarized.

A good security camera with PTZ feature allows for remote control of the camera's view, enabling security personnel to closely monitor specific areas of interest and track any suspicious activity. This feature also allows for zooming in and out, providing clear visuals of individuals and vehicles, which can aid in identifying potential perpetrators.

If, when coming back to your home for a second look, a burglar notices significant security measure now put into place, chances are they won’t even set foot on your property.

That’s because it’s perfectly logical for the victim of a house burglary to install security cameras to avoid a repeat offense. Burglars understand that; however, they also understand that many homeowners don’t take this measure.

That’s why it’s important that you setup a home security system immediately when you have been targeted once. Also remember to make your cameras and system visible from the street. This acts like a warning to home invaders – “stay away from my home. I have taken measures”.

Putting home security signs or stickers along with your camera also let a thief think twice before he decides whether to come back to your house again.

2. Make Your Home Security System Maximize Its Effectiveness

Truly, there is chance that your home is still burglarized even if a surveillance camera is installed. In this case, you should check if there is improper installation, which lets your camera doesn’t act at its best.

• Install your video camera at the best location. If you get a PIR motion activated camera, Reolink Argus 2 for example, make sure it is installed in the direction crossing the possible intruder instead of facing it, for the most accurate motion alerts. No need to worry about the break into house undetected issues.

• Secure the major entry points in home security. Letting your security camera cover all the weak points, like front door, back door, or off-street window sounds greats. So, planning security camera placement carefully so that it’ll maximize its effectiveness.
• Check the blind spots of your home security camera. To prevent a second burglary from happening to you, you should take measures to minimize or avoid blind spots. Get a security camera system or try PTZ cameras, which enable 360 degree horizontal and 90 degree vertical rotation, leaving no “dead area” in your house.

3. Take Proactive Home Security Measures as Repeat Burglary Prevention Tips

House burglars are a creature of habit. While this habitual tendency has meant an increase in repeat burglaries, it also means homeowners who are well informed and prepared can take steps to break the cycle, and make your home safe from break-ins.

• Be a good neighbor. In fact, burglars don’t just target the same house multiple times. They tend to stick to similar neighborhoods where they feel at ease. That’s why it’s important that you and your neighbors come together to support one another; when one home in a community is vandalized, all surrounding homes become a potential target.
• Be careful with the social network issue. People love posting vacation plans and pictures on sites like Facebook and Instagram. But you should never post news or pictures of your vacations until after you return home.
• Beware of the dogs. Simply put, burglars don’t like dogs. Dogs bark. They slow down burglars. They might even bite! In short, a dog complicates things and burglars like simple targets. As the victim of a house burglary, you might want to get a dog not just to deter a repeat burglary, but for your own peace of mind.
• Secure ladders and tools. Burglars are already adept at breaking into homes; there’s no reason to make their jobs any easier. Secure your ladders and tools, such as pry bars, screwdrivers, and hammers. The last thing you want is for these items to turn into burglar tools used against you.

Remember, a repeat burglar has a better understanding of the layout of your home, and might be able to find these tools quickly. Secure them to protect your home.

Don’t Be a Victim of Repeat Burglaries - Be a Survivor

Rather than continue to be victimized by a house burglary, take this unfortunate event as a step toward understanding how best to strengthen your property and deter burglars from ever wanting to come back.

Whether it’s a dog, a security system, befriending neighbors, or all of the above, you can protect your home from a second burglary.