Think like a thief this Christmas (Reformed burglar gives security advice)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | November 29, 2006 | LUCY WATERLOW

[Stoat]

 
Mark Whiteley ... former burglar has home security advice

Think like a thief this Christmas

 
By LUCY WATERLOW
November 29, 2006
 
 

 

 

 

 
"BURGLARS are opportunists. Nine out of ten are cowards. They don't want to meet people. They want to be in and out of a house with expensive goods as quickly as possible."

 

These are 38-year-old Mark Whiteley views on burglars. And he should now, he was one.

For the "buzz" of stealing, Mark began thieving when he was just 14-years-old.

He started out breaking into homes and schools and went on to make a living dealing in stolen goods.

He was convicted and ordered to serve 48 hours at an attendance centre after he was caught stealing climbing equipment from a school.

And after another close call with police over handling stolen goods, he decided to change his ways and make an honest living.

Now he is a successful actor and playwright and wants to help other people avoid becoming victims of burglary.

While Mark admits all year can be "peak time" for thieves, the festive season offers them the opportunity to plunder Christmas gifts or break into homes of people away for the holidays.

So he has teamed up with Prudential Home Insurance to spread the word to people to keep their homes secure.

He said: "When I was thieving in the 1980s, video recorders were the prize item to steal. Today it will be small, expensive gadgets like digital cameras, play stations, mobiles and laptops which are easy to pocket and make for attractive sellable items on the black market.

"It's important to keep your possessions and presents like these out of sight, preferably upstairs."

Mark, from Nottingham, said one good way to test how secure your house is, is to carry out his "10 minute test".

He said: "Pretend you are locked out of your house and time yourself how long it takes you to find a way in. A burglar will find that way in half the time, trust me.

"It could be a dodgy back door lock or a bathroom window always left open because of condensation. When you have identified the weak spots, make sure you secure them."

As well as improving home security, Mark said people can cut crime this Christmas by not buying any cut price presents they suspect have been stolen.

He said: "People have a responsibility. If there wasn't the demand, there wouldn't be the supply. Don't buy half price goods from a dodgy man in the pub as you're only buying into someone else's misery."

Mark's top tips for home security

•  Think like a thief – try to break into your own home and then make it hard for a burglar.
•  Don’t kit out a burglar with the tools for the job.  Keep ladders and tools locked up.
• Keep hedges low, so burglars are exposed. 
•  Lock all doors and windows when you go out, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
• Install simple security devices, like a burglar alarm, to deter would-be criminals.
• Dogs deter burglars but remember they are for life not just to look after your Christmas presents.
• If you’re going away on holiday make sure your home looks occupied.
• Keep your valuables out of sight.
• Mark, log, and photograph your valuables.
• Make friends with your neighbours and ask them to keep an eye on your house when you're not in.
• Never buy cut price goods you suspect have been stolen.

[Stoat]

Furthermore, it COULD possibly indicate that this guy was casing your house, and noticed that you expect certain merchants at your door, or possibly he robbed your normal salesman and got his route list. If your salesman was robbed then this guy may have more information about you than merely your address.
You might want to call the salesman or his company that you normally deal with and report this to them, and report it to the police as well, in the event you haven't already done so.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Threaten, schmeaten. Forget the sturm and drang. Just switch. A smaller bank will probably be friendlier.

[Horatio Gates]

Sounds like some good advice especially your suggestion. The only few things I'd add are make sure exterior lighting is functional and in operation. If you must have lots of foliage around the house try to have something that will rip a potential burglar to shreds. You can also have hedges trimmed up from underneath. Works just as well as trimming down. If you have an alarm system...use it. Not least but last, get practice time at the range just in case

[xusafflyer]

One of the best shows on Discovery is "To Catch a Thief". The two former burglars show first hand how easy it is too rob people in 10-15 mins.

[Stoat]

Sounds like some good advice especially your suggestion. The only few things I'd add are make sure exterior lighting is functional and in operation. If you must have lots of foliage around the house try to have something that will rip a potential burglar to shreds. You can also have hedges trimmed up from underneath. Works just as well as trimming down. If you have an alarm system...use it. Not least but last, get practice time at the range just in case

THANK YOU so very much for your kind words and excellent suggestions!  Essential points all, and some that I'll wager most here haven't even thought of.

[A knight without armor]

Please. "Mark's Tips" are just common sense. Is there anybody here that has learned anything new on that list?

[Stoat]

One of the best shows on Discovery is "To Catch a Thief". The two former burglars show first hand how easy it is too rob people in 10-15 mins.

I almost never watch TV and I don't even have cable (I find the internet far more fun) and so I was not aware of this program at all.  It sounds fascinating, and I'll see if I can cajole a friend into taping an episode or two for me.

Thanks very much, it sounds like a superb use of the TV broadcast spectrum, unlike so many programs that only serve to anaesthetize and destroy brain cells!   :-)

[Stoat]

"Mark's Tips" are just common sense.

And that's precisely the reason why I asked for posters to add their own tips.  FReeper comments are almost always better than the article that they draw from.

[VOA]

I got to admit I'm a junkie for the show on Discovery Channel that
airs at 6PM Eastern M-F that shows the former thieves doing a number
on a house/business.
Their attempt on a suburban police department was interesting.

I've got to admit I do think more about home security (and act on it)
after watching that show a bit.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I Hate Banks
by Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper

I hate banks...
I just can't stand 'em.
Gimme a shovel & man I'll plant 'em.
Six feet under thats where they belong...
I hate banks is the name of this song.
I think I'll rob myself one or two...
Yeah I hate banks, yeah, how 'bout you?

Well...lend me a nickel & lend me a dime,
repossess my house any old time.
Financial institutions think they're so high faluting...
Just a bunch of fruits in three piece suits,
trying to steal all my loot.
Things are smelling pretty rank,
We must be near a stinking bank.
Smells worse than Rockefellars feet,
Wall Street can eat my meat.

Yeah throw the moneylenders out of the temple;
I hate banks its just that simple.
Royal Crown Palm Ade Tin,
is a the best thing to keep your money in.
Mason jar is okay too,
if you see a bank well you know what to do.

Now, lemme tell you people something...
The only banks I like, well, I like Ernie Banks alright.
And I like the banks of the Mississippi River...
Yeah, and I like banks of fender twin reverb...
Electric guitar amplifiers behind me, raging on the stages...

Well,when I walk in they treat me like a dog;
want to hit them in the head with a doo-doo log.
Republicans, one and all...
Their talleywhackers are mighty small.
Stealing from the poor gonna give to the rich...
Wanna make the bank president twitch in a ditch.

Yeah, see that teller with the blue hair,
giving me the evil-eye stare.
Won't cash my check don't like my ID...
got the security guard after me.
If I was E. F. Sloane,
I'd say the Dow Jones can suck my bone.
Yeah.

Everybody say the three magic words!
I want you to help me say the words!
I want you to repeat after me!
I HATE BANKS!
Can't stand 'em!
I HATE BANKS!
Don't Like 'em!
I HATE BANKS!
Bunch of Foo-Foo's!
I HATE BANKS!
Contrary like a big zit!

I hate banks...
I just can't stand 'em.
Gimme a shovel & man I'll plant 'em.
Six feet under thats where they belong...
I hate banks is the name of this song.
I think I'll rob myself one or two...
Yeah I hate banks, yeah, how 'bout you?

Now lemme tell you something...
I'm not real fond of the PHONE COMPANY either!
You know?
Yeah, and I don't like the cable TV company.
You know why I don't like the cable TV company?
Cause they just be sucking that stuff right out the sky!
THEY don't have to pay nuttin for it!
I just get me one of them bootleg cable boxes,
and get me one of them climb the pole and stick the thing in...
I ain't gonna pay for it!
NOOOOO!!!!"


Merry Christmas, Slim

[Stoat]

I got to admit I'm a junkie for the show on Discovery Channel that
airs at 6PM Eastern M-F that shows the former thieves doing a number
on a house/business.
Their attempt on a suburban police department was interesting.

I've got to admit I do think more about home security (and act on it)
after watching that show a bit.

Yours is the second enthusiastic vote for "It takes a Thief"....I'm only seeing a couple "best of" Discovery Channel DVD's for sale at Amazon so it may be that this series hasn't been released to disk yet, unfortunately.  It sounds like it would be a great public service for them to do so.  I think that a great many people would likely have a similarly positive reaction to it as you have.

[Horatio Gates]

Some good info here at wikipedia.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

and here

http://www.crimewise.com/library/cpted.html

[Stoat]

Those are both very interesting links, thank you kindly for posting. I think that it would benefit everyone to read both pages and most importantly to put those principles to work in their own lives.
My dad was a policeman, and so I was brought up to think in such terms all the time. The family home was regarded as a sanctuary to be protected in every way, and so it was always everyone's task to be thinking proactively toward minimizing risks....we've been very lucky so far, unlike most all of our neighbors. I've found that a major element is to get into good, proactive habits that minimize risk of criminal problems and make such habits part of your life, to the point where you don't even think of them consciously anymore.
I think that a lot of people have good intentions, but they tend to forget about things like home security because if it's not an integral part of your daily routine I suppose a lot of people forget about it completely, until something bad happens.
Following your recommendations such as trimming UNDER as well as above hedges, maintaining and expanding upon security lighting and practicing regularly with your defensive weaponry are all things that people can integrate into their routines and hopefully readers to this thread might consider analyzing their routines....it's one thing to say "yes I know about that" but it's quite another to be doing it without thinking about it, day in and day out, year after year, so that it's ALWAYS taken care of and never forgotten.

Thank you so very much for your essential contributions :-)