Illinois Home Security: Signs your Home is Being Cased

• February 27, 2015
• by Carlos Lopez

Break-ins rarely happen randomly, as most of the time they are planned well in advance. The process of “casing” a home for the purpose of breaking in is something burglars spend a great deal of time doing. As such, there may be some telltale signs that this is happening long before a break-in ever takes place. Keep your eyes open for these early warning signs that signal something could be planned for the near future.

Unusual Activity

The first sign of casing is unusual activity in or around your home. Look for people walking by that do not appear to be exercising. They may be wearing ordinary clothes instead of workout gear and moving at a rather slow pace. When passing by your home, they may stare or seem to pay more attention to it than they should.

You may also notice cars parked along the street for an extended period, or vehicles that leave and then return again only a short time later. If these cars do not have business in your neighborhood, chances are they are watching you to learn your routine. If you notice such vehicles, take down as much information as you can about them, including the license plate number if possible. Do not approach the drivers at any time, as these individuals could be dangerous.

Door-to-Door Visitors

Another tactic people use to case your home involves going door to door pretending to sell items or collect money for charity. Some people will even claim to have run out of gas or be experiencing car trouble. If strangers arrive at your door, do not allow them inside. They may be wanting to see inside your home to check for easy access points or identify items worth stealing.

Aside from being diligent, the next best thing you can do is to install an Illinois home security system. Burglars who are casing your home will likely pass it up if they discover yours is protected by an alarm system. To find out more, contact us.

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