Thief Offers Tips To Protect Your Home From Burglary
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ALLEN (CBSDFW.COM) - Authorities in Allen have released a series of videos on YouTube that are intended to help DFW residents better protect their homes from burglary. They conducted an interview with career criminal Michael Durden. He has successfully broken into homes all across the Metroplex, and knows the tricks of the trade.
During the seven-part interview, Durden explained what thieves like himself look for when targeting a home, and what people can do to deter burglars from choosing a particular residence as the next scene of a crime.
These are tips that could prevent you from becoming a victim.
Durden would look for homes in middle-to-upscale neighborhoods with well-manicured lawns -- an indicator that the owners might have disposable income. He would also check for mail and newspapers piling up outside. Sometimes, added Durden, he would case a house for weeks, jogging or driving by while looking for vulnerabilities.
But there is one North Texas city that Durden did not dare to enter -- Richardson. He said that the residents there were far too vigilant in watching for crime.
"I know Neighborhood Watch tells people you need to keep a light on in your home when you're not there, and that's true. It's a deterrent," Durden said. "But don't put the light on in the front room, right by the window. Put the light on in a center room, where it's not easily seen." Lights left on during the daytime were also a deterrent, he explained.
"If I see a car in a driveway or in front of a home, I'm most certainly not going there," Durden added. "People who aren't home generally don't park their cars in front of their homes."
Dogs were not a deterrent, Durden said, unless it was a particularly aggressive breed. And hard-wired security alarm systems are always easy to cut. The criminal recommended wireless alarm units, which are nearly impossible to disable.
Durden said that he would sometimes spend more than five minutes in a house, and do whatever it took to avoid running into people. It all begins with a knock on the door. When selecting a home to target, Durden would look for glass front doors. He is then able to knock repeatedly while peering inside to get an idea of the home's layout.
But even spending several minutes inside of a home would not give Durden enough time to turn an entire house upside down. That is why he would zero in on the master bedroom, skipping electronics and going for jewelry. Skip the obvious hiding spots like the closet and the freezer, he said, and think about really crazy locations. "Put it in your garage. Mix it in with the toolbox, or in your ceiling," Durden suggested. "There's ways to do it in the garage, the attic, if you're just storing it away."
If a thief goes into an expensive home and there is no jewelry in plain sight, then it is clear that the valuables are being hidden.
The Allen Police Department has encouraged viewers to share these videos with friends and family members -- even if they do not live in North Texas -- to help spread this important information. Click here to see the entire playlist of videos.
