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Are there signs that your home is being targeted by burglars?

While nobody wants to dwell on this depressing thought, it’s always better to be prepared and informed.

What Does Casing a House Mean?

You have probably heard the term “casing a house” to describe how burglars analyze a home’s vulnerabilities.

This can also be referred to as “marking a house,” which essentially means the same thing.

Many burglars are smarter than you’d think. When looking for potential targets, they do their research.

When casing homes, the most important goal for burglars is to learn when no one’s at home. When a house in unoccupied, that is when they act.

This article will walk you through burglary statistics, how to know if you’re being targeted by burglars, and simple things you can do to protect your house in this scenario.

Home Burglary Statistics

The more you know about home burglaries, the better you can prepare and protect your home against them. That’s why knowing the statistics is important.

Burglary statistics in the U.S. are shocking. In the FBI’s most recent historical publication, there were an estimated 1,117,696 burglaries in the United States.¹ Burglaries of homes and residential properties made up 62.8 percent of these.

Below are a few home burglary-specific stats:

• The most common place an intruder breaks into a house is through the front door. According to a study from well-known security company ADT, about 34% of burglaries occur through the front door of the home. This may seem like a bold move, however, if an intruder has done a good job watching your home, learning your daily routine, and knowing when you are away, the front door is the easiest place to slip into.
• Only 28% of break-ins occur when the person is home.² The other 72% occur when they are away. This is further proof that burglars watch and target homes to determine the best time to make their move.
• Based on statistics compiled by The Zebra, most home break ins occur between the hours of 10am and 3pm and usually only take on average 8 to 10 minutes to be accomplished. Thieves like to get in and out quickly to avoid being caught.
• The two most frequent months for break ins are July and August.³ You are out and about more in the summer– and burglars are too! Criminals would rather do their work in the summer when it is warm and the greenery is full, providing optimal coverage for them to discreetly rummage through your property.

What Homes are Most Likely to be Cased?

Criminals want to make their jobs as easy as possible, so the homes most likely to be cased are ones that offer easy access like unsecured windows or garages.

Home location is also important. Burglars will be more likely to strike a house that is in a quite, subdued part of town rather than in a busy area with a lot of foot traffic.

The more people that are around, the more likely it is for a crook to be spotted. Also, some homes unknowingly advertise that no one is home like if the property is unkempt or if multiple weeks worth of mail is piled up at the mailbox.

What Are The Signs That Your House Is Marked by Burglars?

Your best protection against burglars is being informed and knowing what signs to look for that someone may be casing your home. Make sure to keep your eyes and ears out for the signs we list below.

1) New Traffic Near Your Property

Whether on foot or in a car, if you notice new or suspicious looking people near your home, it could be a red flag that someone is watching you.

• If you start to see a particular vehicle parked near your home frequently that you know does not belong to your neighbors or anyone visiting them, this could indicate that someone is watching your property. Use security cameras to track vehicles when you’re away and be on the lookout for any patterns.
• Burglars often sit in vehicles with tinted windows to mask their identity. If you notice a car parked near your home for a period of time with no explanation, don’t be shy about calling the police and voicing your concern. In most cases, they will be more than happy to swing by and look into it for you.
• The same goes for foot traffic near your house. If you notice a stranger frequently walking near or past your home, they may be scoping your house out in search of weak points.
• When a criminal is casing a home, they may appear to be innocently walking or jogging by. However, they will likely linger for a prolonged period near your home to scope it out. If you notice this type of behavior, take note of their appearance for future reference.
• Be sure to get a good look at the individual or purchase high quality security cameras that can distinguish faces. This will provide you with an accurate description to give to the police. But keep in mind, not every new person who walks past your home and casts a glance your way is a potential burglar.

2) Solicitation Scams

Another way that burglars case homes is to go to the door pretending to be from a legitimate business, local government agency, or having some other reason to connect with you that seems reasonable.

This is a method for criminals to get a better sense of your home, gain key information, or perhaps find out if you have a home security system, dog, or anything else that might make getaway more difficult.

If granted access to your home, they can scope out windows, doors, and valuables that would inform them about a potential break in.

While you may get visitors that legitimately are looking to sell you a product or service, you should always have your guard up when an unsolicited visitor knocks on your door.

Keep in mind that you are under no obligation to open your door and interact with a stranger.

3) Fake Emergencies

One of the oldest tricks in the book is for a criminal to come to the door and feign an emergency.

They may tell you that their car broke down and they need to use your phone or that they need a glass of water.

• Criminals know how to pull at your heartstrings to get you to feel sorry for them and help them out. We have a tendency to want to see the best in people. Unfortunately, there are people out there looking to take advantage of that.
• Criminals use your kindness and willingness to help them in a time of need to take advantage of you. They may swipe some of your belongings while your back is turned, or they may simply gather intel and come back at a time when you are not home.
• Many burglars will use the opportunity to subtly open up a door or unlock a window while inside so that they can come back and gain easy access to your home.

4) Taking A Picture of Houses then Walking Away

In today’s world of prevalent smartphone use, pretty much everyone has a camera on them. It is now easier than ever for people to snap a quick photo of your home for later research.

If you notice someone taking pictures of your house and then walking away, this could be a red flag.

Be vigilant and look for any other suspicious activity, even if it’s occurring at a home further down the street or another block over.

Alert your local law enforcement if you perceive a threat. Your help could aid them in an ongoing investigation.

5) Posting Flyers on the Door

Not only is having a bunch of flyers or stickers stuck in your door a nuisance, it can also serve as a way for burglars to mark your home.

Many burglars will stick flyers or stickers on homes that they think are unoccupied to serve as an indicator for their accomplices that the home is unguarded.

In these cases, it is wise to remove any flyers from your home immediately. If you are going to be out of town, ask a friend or neighbor to remove any flyers or newspapers that could be piling up outside your home indicating that you are away.

Think Your House Is Being Cased? Trust Your Gut Instinct

When it comes to protecting your home against break ins, one of your best defenses is your gut instinct.

If you have a strong feeling that something suspicious is happening, follow it and report the suspicious activity.

Not every stranger walking through your neighborhood is a threat.

However, if you see someone acting strangely, like not making eye contact or engaging in other suspicious behavior around in front of your home, there may be cause for concern.

Stay alert when you see this kind of activity. Take notes on what the person looks like or take down their license plate number if they are in a vehicle. Be sure to report anything suspicious to the police.

Simple Methods To Protect Your Home From Casing

The truth is, many people don’t consider taking precautions against robbery because they feel as though they don’t have anything worth stealing.

However, burglars don’t know what is inside your home; they simply seize the opportunity when they realize you’ve neglected to take adequate safety precautions. Everyone should take the basic steps to protect their homes from burglars.

Consider the following tips to help protect your home from break ins:

• Invest in a reliable security system to monitor entryways and make sure the devices are visible. Studies show that just the appearance of a security camera can dissuade intruders from trying to break into your home.
• Make sure your home is well lit by installing lighting near every entrance way. Motion detection lights are a great option for garages and doorways.
• Keep your shrubbery trimmed back to avoid unintentionally creating protection for criminals.
• Get to know your neighbors and keep an eye on each others’ houses. If you are friendly with your neighbors, they are more likely to be vigilant about watching your home and reporting anything suspicious to you.
• When you are away from your home, keep your TV or radio on to give the appearance that someone is inside.
• Although it may seem drastic, putting bars on your windows and doors can help to keep intruders at bay.
• Get in the habit of keeping your doors and windows locked. Even if you are just out in the backyard working, make sure that you home is locked up so a burglar can’t gain access when you are not paying attention.
• Don’t flaunt the fact that you are going away on vacation by posting to social media. Tell your close friends and family, not the whole world.
• Stop your mail and newspaper service while you are away or have a friend or neighbor collect them for you. You don’t want your personal mail piling up for someone to go through while you’re away. Identity theft becomes another issue when personal mail is left outside your home.
• Remove any spare keys that you have hidden. Experienced thieves know the best places to look and will easily locate your hidden key.
• Don’t open up your door to strangers. Instead, use a video doorbell (if you have one) to confirm an individual’s identity first.

What to Do If You Think Your House is a Target for Casing

If you have noticed suspicious activity around your home and feel as though a burglar may be casing your house, follow our steps below.

• Take note of any details involving the suspicious person or people around your home including what they look like, vehicle information, etc.
• Talk to your neighbors to see if they have noticed any suspicious activity and let them know your concerns.
• Alert local law enforcement and provide them with the information that you have gathered so that they are aware and can keep a closer watch on your area.
• If you haven’t already, this would be a good time to invest in a home security system. You can even grab some inexpensive security cameras online that will do the trick without putting much of a dent in your wallet.
• Reinforce entrances and windows with additional locks and security measures.

When it comes to burglaries, there are many things that you can do to be vigilant about potential break ins.

While no one wants to think about protecting their home from potential threats, it is important that you feel safe in your own home and are aware of the warning signs of potential criminal activity.

A successful break-in is traumatizing for homeowners. It is an invasion of your space and sense of safety.

You may feel as though some of the above mentioned steps are a bit extreme or border on paranoia. However, when it comes to your safety and security, you can never be too prepared. Admittedly, it’s an old cliche, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

By following our steps and remaining vigilant, you can help to ward off burglars and prevent break ins so that you can maintain the safety and security you should feel in your home.

Looking for home security? Contact the Alarm New England team today.

Last updated: 9/25/2023

Both glass break detectors and motion sensors are great additions to a home that is protected by door and window sensors.

Door and window sensors will only activate an alarm if the actual door or window is opened, so even if you’ve got contacts on every door and window, you’re still only partially protected.

A criminal that shatters a sliding door or window and then climbs through the opening would be able to walk freely through your home without ever tripping an alarm.

This is why it is imperative to have interior protection as well as exterior systems when you design your home defense layout. Read on to learn about these two simple devices that can provide you with an additional layer of protection.

Glass Break Detectors

Similar to door or window sensors, a glass break detector is another form of perimeter protection. A glass break detector uses an audio microphone to pick up the audio frequency of broken glass.

If the security system is armed and hears the sound of glass breaking, it will automatically put the system into alarm and notify our central monitoring station.

Whereas door and window sensors protect the door or window from being forced open, glass break detectors protect against someone physically breaking the glass and climbing into your house.

If your home has big windows, sliding doors, or doors with nearby glass panels around it, these detectors are a great way to make your home defense system more robust.

Motion Detectors

Motion sensors are considered interior protection. While door, window, and glass break detectors protect against an intruder coming through a perimeter point, a motion sensor detects intruders regardless of how they got in.

As long as the intruder walks into a room that’s protected by a motion sensor, an alarm is activated. It is always recommended to have both perimeter and interior protection when upgrading your property with home defense in mind.

Motion sensors protect against a wider range of intrusion types. Some people avoid getting motions out of concern that their pet will set off a false alarm, but the good news is there are pet-immune motion sensors out there that are safe for use with small and medium-sized dogs.

Find out more about which device is more useful for your home when you talk to our sales team at 857-445-4010.

When it comes to modern home security systems, one of the most exciting new products on the market is a new security measure for your front door: video doorbell cameras.

There are only a few well-reviewed options on the market at the moment, so you have likely already come across the Skybell Trim Plus and Nest Hello. To help you decide which is suitable for your home, read on for our comparison of these two leading devices.

What Is A Doorbell Camera?

These devices look just like your regular doorbell and are generally the same size as a regular doorbell and mounted in the same place. The difference is that they contain a camera that takes records and streams footage upon activation. This camera activates the moment a sensor picks up motion within a certain area.

The footage can then be opened up on your phone through an app linked to the camera, allowing you to respond to the visitor and see what is happening in front of your home from absolutely anywhere.

Doorbell cameras are designed to tie in with your home security alarm systeml so that you can control all of your devices and arm/disarm your system from a single app. To make sure that you get the right doorbell for your needs, talk to a reputable Alarm system company in your area.

What to Consider When Choosing Between the Skybell Trim Plus and the Nest Hello

Choosing the right security feature for your home involves asking yourself a number of different questions:

• What kind of technology do you need to link your device with?
• Do you want it to be able to film at night?
• How many people will want access to the device?
• How busy is your front door activity?With those questions in mind, here are some features and points of interest in the two different products.
  

  Skybell Trim Plus

  Arguably the best doorbell company out there, Skybell manufactures top-quality products with useful and lasting designs. These designs have patents in order to keep their products unique and unchallenged.

  Look and Feel

  One of the first things you notice about this product is how great it looks. The Skybell Trim Plus is slim, sleek, and elegant.

  Size-wise it has been designed to fit in perfectly just about anywhere. The slim body never sticks out too much and the neutral silver finish gives it a polished look that never seems out of place. Skybell put some thought into the aesthetics, and this product will easily fit right into the look and design of your home.

  Features

  Motion Sensor Activity

  One of the great features of this bell is the motion sensor function, which acts as a useful security and surveillance tool. A sensor on the doorbell detects movement and turns the camera on. This means that even if somebody doesn’t ring the button, you will still be able to see what is going on in front of your house.

  Wireless Connectivity

  This Skybell product uses your internet connection to stream video to the cloud. This feature is what allows you to access the video footage from your phone or device through the application. Connection over your broadband internet allows for easy setup and constant access to the camera.

  180-Degree View

  The camera on this doorbell is awesome. It provides a full 180-degree view of everything going on around its location. With the Skybell, you won’t just see what is directly in front of the camera, but will also be able to watch what is happening all around it.

  HD Photograph

  This camera has the added feature of being able to take a photo of each visitor. This is a useful tool for home security.

  Cloud Storage

  All footage from the camera is stored and saved in a cloud server. No footage is stored on the actual device, so it can’t be deleted without authorization even in the unlikely event someone would attempt to steal the doorbell.

  Cost-Effective

  There are no subscriptions or extra fees necessary for this product, as cloud storage is included in the price.

  Integrations

  Use Amazon Echo and Alexa to control your smart doorbell camera and to integrate the doorbell into the established security features of your home.

  Nest Hello

  Another great name in doorbells, Nest has a top-quality product on offer with their Hello Doorbell. This model is striking with its pill-shaped shell. It is durable, easy to install, and has a good reputation. If you are looking for a video doorbell that stands out, then the Nest Hello is for you.

  Look and Feel

  The doorbell itself is small and elegant with a more futuristic look that appeals to a tech-oriented demographic. That being said, this model is also simple and slim enough to not stick out too much.

  Overall, the Nest Hello works well with all housing designs.

  Features

  160-degree field of view

  The 160 degree 4:3 HD diagonal view on this camera means that you get the full appearance of someone standing at your door, from head to toe.

  Face recognition

  If you sign-up for the Nest Aware subscription, then you will get familiar face recognition on this device. What this means is that it recognizes whether there is a person, animal, or otherwise at your door. Then on top of that, it knows whether the person is a stranger or someone you are familiar with, and the doorbell will alert you to this.

  Audio

  With this device, you can interact with visitors at your door, either in real time as a two-way conversation or via the additional pre-recorded response. This is helpful if you know you are not able to answer the bell for a period of time.

  Integrations

  Use Google Home Hub and Assistant to control the view of your smart home and Nest Hello doorbell camera device.

  Skybell Trim Plus and Nest Hello Compared

  Ease of Use

  When it comes to comparing these two different doorbell cameras, both the Skybell and the Nest Hello really shine in the usability category.

  Both are compatible with your smartphone, which means that you can easily connect to your video doorbell through whatever phone you may be using.

  When it comes to communicating with the person at the door, both offer two-way audio, which means you can speak to your visitors. The Nest Hello has the added advantage of being able to play pre-recorded responses—something which adds a bit of simplicity into your life.

  In terms of installation, both are very easy too as neither really requires any professional installation or set up. In general, they are easy to use products.

  Video Quality

  If you are buying a doorbell camera, good video quality is one of your top priorities. The Skybell boasts a highly impressive camera, which can capture HD photographs, has the capability of a 5x zoom, and can be enjoyed with a full 180-degree view.

  The Nest Hello also has a super high-quality camera which captures everything around your entrance. Capturing a 1600 by 1200 resolution image at 15 frames per second, this is a seriously impressive camera for a doorbell.

  Monthly Fees

  A massive bonus of using SkyBell technology is the lack of subscription fees. Once you have paid the retail price, everything you need becomes available to you. Typically whenever you buy a home alarm system with cameras, usually you have to pay a separate fee for cloud storage or set up your local storage solution.

  SkyBell allows all users, both free and paid, to access a cloud-based portal where all video footage can be saved.

  The Nest Hello does require additional subscription fees if you want to save any videos. As the Nest Hello is already an expensive device, having subscription-based add-ons seems to suggest that this device is aimed at those for whom cost is less important than the number of features.

  Installation

  While the Skybell can be set up at home without the help of a professional installer, the Nest Hello is slightly more complex. It’s a wired doorbell and requires a chime and a transformer to work.

  (Source: Nest Community)

  With this in mind, it is often better to get a professional installer to put it in for you, which means you will be liable for installation fees and this could add on another $200 or so to the overall cost.

  Weather Resistance

  This is an important feature to take into consideration when looking for a doorbell. Both the Skybell and the Nest have great durability in bad weather.

  If you purchase the right protective silicone cover, the Nest Hello holds up well against water, UV rays, insects and general bad weather.

  However, the Skybell is also a tough and durable piece of equipment. It is important to note that this product can even be used in temperatures of -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

  Night Vision

  Night time is often when the security of your home is at its most vulnerable. Consequently, night vision is practically a must for your security system. Luckily, both of these doorbell cameras offer night vision and the Skybell goes one step further by offering full-color night vision.

  Design

  Neither camera suffers much in the looks department. Both of them blend into different home designs and color schemes with ease.

  A limited number of customization options are available. While you can try out various colored protective covers on the Nest, the Skybell comes in two different color finishes.

  Furthermore, they are both are easily recognizable as being a video recording doorbell. While some may prefer to be discreet and choose a device that is hard to spot, the fact that these two are noticeable actually works as a security advantage. That being said, the Skybell is taller and slimmer than the Nest camera.

  Some Nest users have reported problems of the mold of the doorbell not fitting very well.

  Silent Mode

  Both of these products offer a silent mode, where you can turn the doorbell off while the camera continues rolling. This feature is great for when you aren’t expecting visitors and do not want to be disturbed.

  Do I Need a Doorbell Camera?

  When it comes to the safety and security of your home, you really shouldn’t be taking any risks. Having an active doorbell camera positioned at your entrance can be a very useful add-on to a top-rated home security system

  Firstly, a doorbell camera allows you to see who is ringing your bell. This way you know who to let in, who passes by your home, and exactly what the person at your door is doing. If you are not at home, you are still able to monitor what is going on through the phone linking technology.

  Besides answering your doorbell, a camera is always a good idea for general surveillance purposes. Being able to access a bank of saved surveillance videos can help you a great deal in terms of safety and monitoring your security.

  Final Thoughts

  Both the Skybell Trim Plus and the Nest Hello are well-designed products. When the devices are compared, they fare up very well. Here are some of our favorite features that both doorbells share:

  • • A high-quality camera
    • Easy to install and use
    • Durable and tough designs
    • They both look great&lt
    • They both offer functional security solutions

  Although both products are very worthwhile, we think that the Skybell’s lack of extra subscription fees, slim design, fast response, and HD options give it a decisive advantage. Contact a reputable alarm company in your area to see what kind of doorbells they have on offer.