What reformed burglars have taught us about home security

At ADT we’re experts in keeping your family, your home and your possessions safe. To do this effectively we need to stay one step ahead of the burglars, which means understanding how they work so we can best counter them.

This is why we decided to speak with 116 reformed burglars to learn what makes them tick – and the results were both interesting and disturbing.

We found an increasing level of professionalism amongst burglars, with many feeling a sense of entitlement that drives them to take anything that homeowners leave on display.

The research also helped us identify the simple measures we can all take to improve our home security, and the deterrents which drive criminal gangs away from a property.

Watch the video below to see a summary of our findings:

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  What puts burglars off

  1. Believing that somebody is at home (73%)
  2. Gravel driveways: "because the crunching noise really travels at night"
  3. Dogs are a great deterrent - they make a noise and no-one wants to get bitten (60%)
  4. New, secure-looking doors and locks, sensor lights and CCTV
  5. Monitored alarms are avoided like the plague! (94%)

  How to make it look like you're at home when you're not

  1. Keep front and back doors locked at all times
  2. Keep keys and valuables out of sight and reach from cat flaps, letter boxes, downstairs doors and windows
  3. If you’re out in the evening, leave a light on and draw the curtains
  4. If it's dark before you get home, use timer switches to turn on the lights
  5. Light up your front door with dusk to dawn lighting that's visible from the street
  6. Keep Christmas presents and sales boxes out of sight
  7. When recycling, fold up any packaging that offers a clue to what your home contains.

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