“A Burglar Writes……” Want to avoid being a victim of a burglary? Then it is time to really look at a 21st century forensic solution to protecting your property.
A detailed analysis from a former UK house burglar as to the reasons certain homes were targeted by him and offers a ground-breaking solution to prevent becoming a future victim to a house break.
As someone who has had an extensive career in relation to committing house burglaries not just in the UK but overseas, I am often asked one overarching question both from members of the public and law enforcement. The question is usually framed around what makes a property attractive to a burglar.
I may add that I no longer operate criminally and now devote a significant proportion of my time to advising key agencies and individuals regarding how they can target harden their property. I still recall in detail, however, my mindset at the height of my criminal activity and why it is pertinent to this issue.
When addressing this question, it is therefore important to be mindful of the modus operandi and rationale of someone who operated as I once did. The key question proposed earlier could be interpreted as to why, out of a row of similar houses on a street, did I choose to break into your property? Was there something intrinsically inviting that directed to me to break into your house or were you just unlucky? If you have been a victim of a house break, I am certain that, in many cases, you would want to know why you were targeted. Is it because you lived alone or were elderly, or you had valuable items openly visible to would be thieves? Was your property unkempt, had you been under surveillance or followed home? Has someone provided information to the burglar to mark you out as a suitable target?
I have some insight into these questions that will be posed by a victim as I took part in a number of insightful restorative justice meetings with victims of my criminality. These were some of the key questions that they wanted to address with me.
How and why I targeted houses just like yours
From my perspective I would set out to target areas with houses where I would anticipate a good payload (payoff) for the limited amount of time I was in the house. On most occasions I was in the house for no more than 10 minutes, undertake a tidy search, typically in the main bedroom, looking for jewellery, watches and cash. These were lightweight and had limited bulk to carry from the scene. Sometimes alarms would trigger but I knew that it was unlikely that police would be quick to attend. Would neighbours respond quickly to a triggered audible alarm? In my experience - not a chance!
Mostly I would set out to undertake somewhere between 5 and 10 burglaries in a day typically operating between 11am and 2pm or between 7 and 10pm. These times would coincide with residents being at work, school or shops in the day or out for a meal, at the pub at night. If confronted at these times as to why I was on their perimeter it was easier to forge a plausible explanation for my presence than at 3am in the morning. I know of some burglars who undertake a leaflet drop as a plausible reason to attend the house or pretend they are from Amazon looking to locate a “Mrs Smith” Approaches of this nature affords ample time to assess the payoff, look through windows or even speak to the householder at the doorstep.
I would be scrutinising alarm and camera systems and security signage, presence of yappy or fierce dogs and the level of cover from nosey neighbours. High hedges and tree cover to obscure the vigilance of people/cameras next door was ideal. If the circumstances felt right, I would often do the house there and then or come back later if there was someone present.
The idea that you may have been a victim of a pro-longed surveillance of your house by criminals days or weeks before the burglary or you have been followed home as part of a targeted campaign is typically not the case for most burglaries (though I have written other articles in this forum where this could be the case). This prior longer term victim surveillance (in my case) largely required too much effort compared to the payoff as a cost benefit analysis. So, what would be a big deterrent to me if I was still operating in 2024-2025?
The Role of DNA liquid asset marking in crime prevention
DNA liquid marking is a traceable, non-toxic liquid that contains a unique forensic code that is specific to each individual homeowner. When applied to valuable possessions or marked on your property, I feel it would be an effective deterrent against burglars and a powerful tool for the police as part of a cohesive anti-acquisitive crime initiative.
Deters Thieves
DNA liquid asset marking acts as an invisible shield, sending a strong message to potential thieves that your property is protected. The knowledge that valuable items are marked with a substance that is nearly impossible to remove can discourage criminals from attempting a break-in.
Traces Stolen Items
The unique forensic code in DNA liquid asset marking can link stolen property back to its rightful owner. When the police recover stolen items marked with DNA liquid asset marking, they can use standard UV light detection equipment to locate and verify the presence of the forensic code. This process significantly increases the chances of returning stolen property to its rightful owners and increases the possibility to bring thieves to justice.
Relatively Inexpensive to Buy and Easy to Apply.
There are a number of credible and respected liquid asset marking companies online such as Smartwater, Securitech or Selectamark that are prominent and trusted in the UK. The asset marking liquid product typically is in kit form and costs approximately the £50 pound mark but this will allow you to mark up to 50 items. The process for applying the liquid DNA is simple as the kit includes a unique brush applicator,
My advice for using DNA liquid asset marking in your home.
Identify High-Value Items: Begin by marking your high-value possessions like electronics, jewellery, and antiques with DNA liquid asset marking. I would also use the opportunity to take some detailed digital images of your items and store these on a cloud-based system.
Record Your Forensic Code: Keep a record of your DNA liquid asset marking code in a safe place. This code is unique to your property and will be essential for the police to verify the authenticity of marked items.
Inform Local Police: Let your local police know that you have DNA liquid asset marking protection in place. This information can assist them in identifying and returning stolen items to you if a theft occurs. Having a good photo of your property also helps in this ID phase.
If you part of a neighbourhood group such as Neighbourhood Watch, try to encourage other neighbours to use DNA liquid asset marking. From my perspective I would have avoided vigilant neighbourhood areas that have visible deterrent signs and pick another street instead.
Work With Your Neighbourhood: If you part of a neighbourhood group such as Neighbourhood Watch, try to encourage other neighbours to use DNA liquid asset marking. From my perspective I would have avoided vigilant neighbourhood areas that have visible deterrent signs and pick another street instead.
Conclusion
As a former career burglar who has met some of my victims, I have witnessed first-hand the powerful impact of a burglary from those I have stolen. I know the misery I have caused to thousands of families by taking items of often incalculable emotional, sentimental and financial value. For these reasons I am truly sorry for what I have done without mitigation. At the time I saw that such stolen items were merely a commodity to realise into cold hard cash which demeans the incident into a mercenary transaction.
It is within this context that householders must entertain a more pro-active, modern and forensic solution on home security. DNA marking is an invaluable tool that deters criminals, aids in the recovery of stolen property, and facilitates the prosecution of thieves. By taking the proactive step of using such technology to protect your home and belongings, you can enhance your peace of mind and contribute to the safety of your community. In an era where home security is of paramount importance, this capability stands out as a reliable, easy and effective solution to protect what matters most.
Note
The author Darryl Kennedy has no affiliation to any crime prevention product mentioned in this article.
Darryl Kennedy: Eyes on Crime Contributor
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