Burglary methods

The most common burglary methods How you can protect yourself!

It is a widespread misconception that burglaries primarily take place at night. In fact, offenders often strike during the day, e.g. when you are at work, in the early evening or at weekends - for example, when you have just gone shopping.
In order to implement effective security measures against burglaries, you need to understand the strategies, techniques and burglary methods of the perpetrators. This is the only way to protect yourself effectively.

Here we explain exactly what the perpetrators do and what measures you can take to protect yourself:

Levering is the most popular technique used in housebreaking. The most common target is the front door, but even unsecured windows can often be forced open quite easily.

Criminals usually use a normal screwdriver, which anyone can always carry with them. With this simple tool, unsecured doors and windows can be opened within a very short time, even by opportunist thieves - without making much noise and almost without a trace. Quickly in, quickly out and completely inconspicuous. Intruders often start by looking through the window for obvious loot - such as visible handbags, car keys or wallets. Effective burglary protection therefore means providing sufficient protection against forceful break-in attempts - through mechanical security systems such as mushroom-head locking systems or additional locks such as deadbolt locks for doors and windows.

The following methods all target the locking cylinder. Cylinder pulling as a methos is used in 16% of all break-ins. The reason why this method appears to be so popular is that it works on most of the conventional door cylinders. It method works as follows: The burglar turns a screw into the keyhole, which allows the entire cylinder to be pulled out. Using a special key extraction tool or even just a conventional claw hammer, the destroyed lock cylinder (or the lock core) is pulled out of the lock. A universal key is now all that is needed to open the door. Compared to other burglary methods, cylinder core pulling is relatively quick and causes very little noise.

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We reveal a simple remedy against this burglary method: Install Door fittings with cylinder pull protection, such as our models manufactured in Germany and recommended by the police HLZ814 round or HLZ814 square. Alternatively, you can also retrofit a security escutcheon with cylinder pull protection. We recommend the models RHZS415 and RSZS316.

Thanks to the cylinder pull protection, the locking cylinder is protected against the cylinder core being drilled out and pulled out.

If the cylinder protrudes slightly from the door, it is exploited by burglars as a weak point. They first remove the protective plate by using a lever claw. This can then be used to break out the cylinder. If the rest of the locking cylinder is then pushed out, the door is open. Use Security door fittings with cylinder pull protection, as these are much more resistant.

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Breaking cylinders: Burglars also target the cylinder core with this technique. If a cylinder lock protrudes slightly, burglars can also grab it with pliers. The locking cylinder is broken by applying strong pressure to the pliers. The door is then opened with a universal key.

By installing a flush or recessed cylinder lock, you can prevent burglars from gaining enough grip to pick or break the cylinder. A general rule here is that the lock should never protrude more than two millimetres.

The technique of window drilling has been known to the police for some time. However, an increase in this method is currently being observed. The burglar drills a hole in the frame of a window or patio door with a cordless drill underneath the handle. The window handle is opened through the hole using a specially bent metal rod. The material of the window frame is irrelevant, as modern cordless drills can easily drill through plastic or wood.

The police give the following advice to protect against break-ins by window drillers:

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  • Use the Lockable window handles or even better window locks, like our FO400N and lock them too! In some documented cases, burglars were unable to open a patio door because it was locked.
  • Also important: hide the key, do not place it in the immediate vicinity of windows, patio or balcony doors.
  • Close the shutters on ground-level windows and patio doors!

Rustic but unfortunately often effective: the burglar breaks part or even all of the window glass and can then simply open the window from the inside. Of course, this creates a lot of noise, but this is quickly drowned out by other ambient noise during the day, or burglars prefer to look for isolated objects.

However, this method harbours risks for the burglar, such as injuries and leaving traces of blood at the scene of the crime. Burglar-proof glazing (so-called P4A glass) offers protection against such an attack. And in general: burglary protection products on windows deter burglars. More on burglary protection measures that you can take on windows, you can find here

No matter how well secured your front door is, an open window (even on the top floor), hinged French windows and patio doors act as an invitation to burglars.

Windows are always the most vulnerable parts of the house, as glass is naturally difficult to secure and many tenants and owners shy away from the expense of extensive security measures for each individual window. Nevertheless, you should treat every window in the same way as your front door.

As a general rule, you should always close every window when you leave the house. The same applies here: don't forget basement windows, even if you might not be able to fit through them yourself. Increase the security of your windows by installing burglar-resistant window fittings.

Find the right window locks for your windows:
Here you’ll find the right security for simple windows © ABUS
Single Casement Windows
We recommend suitable solutions for securing single-leaf windows against burglary here.
Find the right security for your double casement windows © ABUS
Double casement windows
We have developed special additional security locks for double casement windows which provide extra security for the sensitive area, the middle bar, and protect it against break-in.
Find the right security for your balcony or patio door © ABUS
Balcony door/patio door
Secure your balcony door or patio door against break-in. These are often recognised right away by burglars as a weak point.
Find the right security for your cellar window © ABUS
Cellar windows
Break-in protection also for cellar rooms: Secure your cellar and light well against intruders.
Secure your skylight against unauthorised climbers © ABUS
Skylight window
With our skylight lock, you can effectively secure your skylights against break-in.
Find the right security for outward-opening windows © ABUS
Outward-opening windows
We also have the right window security for outward-opening windows.

This delicate technique is often shown on television to illustrate that burglars can seemingly get in anywhere. But this is largely a TV myth!

© ABUS

Special lockpicking tools are used to scan the locking pins of the door, push them back and open the door with great sensitivity. However, as the criminals need special, relatively expensive equipment for this and lockpicking also requires a lot of practice, only a few burglars resort to it. This technique is mainly used by the fire brigade, police and locksmiths for emergency openings.

A shadow in the night: a masked burglar skilfully sneaks through the dark, tools in hand and a hint of mystery in the air © ABUS

Basically, experts differentiate between opportunist burglars and professional burglars.

Opportunist burglars often commit burglaries because they are in a personal emergency situation and are under a lot of pressure - the offender needs money. In both cases, the offenders only have simple and light tools at their disposal and therefore favour simple burglary methods.

Because "professionals" are rarely active, spontaneous and opportunistic offenders account for around 80 % of all burglaries. Although they intend to break in, they do not have a specific target. Instead, they spontaneously seize an opportunity when they pass by a house or flat that appears to have hardly any burglary protection. But how exactly do the perpetrators get into the house?

 

BE CAREFUL WITH PLASTIC CLIPS OR PLASTIC STRIPS

Have you ever noticed plastic clips or plastic strips on your front door or on the floor in front of it? Now is the time to act quickly. It could be that burglars have set their sights on your home!

Crook prongs - the language of thieves © ABUS

Criminal groups often mark the buildings they spy on with certain signs to signal to their "members" that it is a worthwhile or easy target, whether security precautions have been taken or, for example, whether a guard dog is lurking on the property.

These signs mostly appear on doors, fences and building walls. You often only see these signs at second glance. A relatively new trick is to insert inconspicuous plastic clips into the front door. If this small tool is still in place after a few days, burglars interpret this as a sure sign that the house is currently unoccupied. If you notice such marks or markings on your own building, property or neighbours, please contact your local police station immediately.

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