The most sought-after items on every burglar’s hit list
<p><strong>Jewellery</strong></p>
<p><span>When you hear the word burglar, you’re probably already envisioning a masked man with a burlap sack full of jewels in hand. As it happens, this archetype arose because jewellery is extremely easy to resell illegally. Security Awareness Expert Robert Siciliano says that it doesn’t even matter if your bling is authentic: “Burglars aren’t generally sifting through what’s real or fake until they get back to their evil lair,” he says. “They try to quickly get in and get out. But once they do, they can generally differentiate, and if they can’t, the pawnshop where they go can make the determination.”</span></p>
<p><strong>Your AI assistants</strong></p>
<p><span>“Your electronics are another prime target,” says home security expert Christina Mullen. “When it comes to electronics and appliances, the burglar is going to take the most accessible items. They do not want to spend more time trying to take an appliance that is mounted on the wall, hard to reach or hidden items.” Mullen says that burglars tend to like small yet expensive devices such as AI Assistants, like Alexa-enabled devices and Google Homes.</span></p>
<p><strong>Cash</strong></p>
<p><span>Maybe switching to credit or debit cards is the right idea – burglars love to sift through your drawers and purses for cold, hard cash. Unlike traceable debit and credit cards, once it’s gone, cash can’t be cancelled or found again. In addition, cash loss can be hard to prove to insurers, especially when excessive amounts are stolen.</span></p>
<p><strong>Prescription drugs</strong></p>
<p><span>Although the most popular items burglars are looking to steal are cash, jewellery and electronics, prescription drugs have become valuable, says investigator Patricia Vercillo. “If not for personal use, the burglar won’t have a hard time selling them on the street, which can make for a dangerous situation.” She recommends that homeowners dispose of old, leftover or expired medications so that they do not become a victim of this kind of theft.</span></p>
<p><strong>Unmounted TVs and other electronics</strong></p>
<p><span>Your child’s new Switch? Your PS4? These cutting-edge gaming consoles are sleek, powerful, and most of all, extremely portable. These two items – which could fit cosily in a briefcase – are high-cost and low-density, making them the perfect steal for any home invader. Thieves also love to steal TVs, but only unmounted ones. “Remember, convenience is key,” says Mullen. “If your TV is mounted on the wall and bolted in, it’s no longer an easy target and is less likely to get stolen.”</span></p>
<p><strong>Power tools</strong></p>
<p><span>Mullen notes that some of the least expected items might go missing in a robbery. “You wouldn’t expect the power tools in your shed to be a target, but they’re decently valued and easily re-sold…even kitchen appliances can fall victim to the burglar’s sweep of your house.” To prevent this theft, smart homeowners should check that they’ve locked their outdoor sheds and aren’t leaving their cars – which often contain garage door-opening remotes – unlocked overnight.</span></p>
<p><strong>Personal information</strong></p>
<p><span>Your burglar might just be someone you know. In more than half of all offences, the perpetrator is someone that homeowners know or trust. “What they steal may have more to do with their disdain of the homeowners,” says Leonard Sipes. “I know of a case where a laptop was stolen just to pry into the lives of the occupant.” According to Sipes, the homeowner’s dogs were also present at the scene of the crime, but the thief simply fed the dogs because they recognised him.</span></p>
<p><strong>Your safe isn't safe</strong></p>
<p><span>Safes and strongboxes aren’t guaranteed to protect your valuables, especially if they’re light, small or not installed in a wall. “Keep a small safe under your bed? They’ll probably check, and they just might carry the whole thing with them,” says Mullen. If you’re looking into buying a safe, remember that some new electronic safes can be hacked, and old-fashioned safes can be cracked open with enough force – finding a better hiding place might be the key.</span></p>
<p><strong>Scrap metal</strong></p>
<p><span>According to Dr Ben Stickle, scrap metal is a valuable material to home intruders. Since metals such as copper are valuable and can be easily resold, Dr Stickle says that scrap metal thieves target “air conditioners, hot water heaters, electrical cables, plumbing materials, and more.” Burglars will target homes under construction, but they don’t always stop there. “Be careful who you let work on your home,” says Stickle. “Many metal thieves had current or past experience as roofers, plumbers, electricians…and would often return after seeing items of metal that were valuable.”</span></p>
<p><strong>Kitchen appliances</strong></p>
<p><span>Do you love your NutriBullet? Your electric mixer? Your slow cooker or your Soda Stream? Well, so do thieves. These items can be re-sold and will easily fit into a duffel bag. “Even kitchen appliances can fall victim to the burglar’s sweep of your house,” says Mullen. Some thieves have even been known to steal refrigerators and stoves because of their expensive market prices, but it’s far harder to make a stealthy get-away with a stainless-steel fridge.</span></p>
<p><strong>Your old iPod</strong></p>
<p><span>Nervous thieves aren’t picky, and whatever’s visible is fair game. “[Thieves] won’t spend their time looking for specific items that are in-vogue – you’d be surprised at some of the low-profile items that get stolen, like corded headphones or even an iPod,” Mullen says. Most thieves are just trying to be speedy, but we like to think that some are into vintage tech, or just left their earphones at home.</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Dani Walpole. This article first appeared in </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/home-tips/the-most-sought-after-items-on-every-burglars-hit-list" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reader’s Digest</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here’s our best subscription offer.</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>
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