PORTLAND, Ore. – More than 85 burglars incarcerated in the Oregon Department of Corrections were surveyed by an investigative news team to learn about their methods for breaking into homes and what deterred them most from carrying out a heist.
KGW News mailed letters to 86 inmates who were asked to respond anonymously to 17 questions detailing how they broke in, when the crime occurred and what they were looking for.
When asked if security signs posted outside the home served as a deterrent, the burglars had mixed opinions. Some of the them said it didn’t faze them. Others said they knew how to disable alarms or avoid setting them off, according to the report.
And if a home alarm system sounded, how did the intruders react? Most said they would leave the premises immediately if a security alarm went off.
“I would try and turn it off or get the hell out of there,” one burglar responded.
In general, a majority of burglars said security cameras proved to be a deterrent. But some said it also likely signaled there were valuables inside the home.
You can view the full report here.
