Jenny Radcliffe knows a thing or two about break-ins. This former burglar is even employed by certain companies to test their security systems. According to her, certain very common vulnerabilities attract thieves, and we often make these mistakes in everyday life.
We are far from suspecting that our actions and our little daily habits can turn against us. Since she was a teenager, Jenny Radcliffe, who grew up in Liverpool in the 1980s, has learned the art of housebreaking. Burglaries, without any violence, she knows her way around. She began by entering buildings, abandoned warehouses, then museums at night without ever being pursued. She then enters houses, but her “know-how” ultimately serves to raise awareness. She is hired by individuals and companies who ask her to test their security system. Jenny Radcliffe also shares her advice, her techniques and above all the mistakes that we all make and which attract thieves.
Indeed, before taking action, this former thief explains that she sat in a bar to listen to conversations and obtain valuable information. Understanding people’s routines is an essential point, made much simpler today with the development of social networks. “People don’t realize that their online lives are tied to their physical property. Every time we go on vacation, we talk about it on social media“, she notes. A way of telling thieves that our house is unoccupied! She therefore advises keeping one’s private life without sharing one’s routine, one’s vacations, and even sharing back-to-school photos, which leaves hear that we will be absent throughout the year at very specific times in the morning and evening to accompany the children to school and pick them up. Although this point is rather well known by most between us, the expert in the field shares other tips that can be useful to better protect yourself from risks.
Among the other mistakes not to make: leaving equipment in front of your house, such as a ladder, the open garage in which there are often tools allowing you to open a door to break in… Also be careful not to give your keys too quickly to people who might have access to your home. A cleaning lady, the nanny… Take the time to be sure that these are people you trust. Jenny Radcliffe also advises individuals to deter thieves by keeping a table lit while you are away, for example, or to waste their time by hiding a fake key under the doormat. Finally, planting trees in front of your house is always very pretty, but it allows thieves to be better hidden and operate in complete peace of mind. On the other hand, investing in gravel around the house with a good lighting system can deter many people.