You can start by learning about who the average burglar is and how he plies his trade, according to SecurityLink from Ameritech. It helps to know something about how burglars operate. There's a wealth of facts and statistics available online from the FBI, the Bureau of Justice Statistics and other sources that reveal important insights - insights you can use to develop an effective home security strategy. SecurityLink's own review of burglary data uncovered some important facts. Burglars encounter a resident in only 13 percent of break-ins.
Burglars also prefer homes that provide extra cover and an easy getaway.
Homes with tall privacy fences, large shrubs, no outdoor lighting and easy access to major highways rate high on the hit list. More than 80 percent enter a home through the first floor, and over half get in through a front or back door. Another 25 percent come through a first-floor window. A small percentage enters through the garage, basement or second floor. Too often, homeowners make it easy for burglars - 40 percent of the time, burglars enter through an unlocked door or window.