The Five Types of Burglars

There are five basic types of burglars: Opportunity, Smashers, Prowlers and Targeted and Complete Burglars. The best way to prevent theft, whether from any type of Burglar, is to have a Security System and to use it.

Opportunity Burglars

This type of Thief will search for theft opportunities that are easy, quick, and petty. If you leave your door unlocked or your window open, they will take advantage of your trust or forgetfulness. In law, this would be considered a second degree crime, or not premeditated. An opportunity burglar will not do very much to decide who they will burglarize, they look for an easy opportunity. They don’t tend to steal very much of value because they don’t know what they’ll find until they are in the act.

Smashers Burglars

A Smasher or “smash and grab” burglar is more desperate than an Opportunity Burglar. They are often into drug-use, and are only looking for cash or items that can easily be exchanged for cash. These A Smash burglary will sometimes be comical, because they will steal something that is not very valuable, and they will leave behind something that holds much more value. A Smasher will usually enter a home or business by breaking through a door or window.

Prowlers Burglars

A Prowler is more professional than a Smasher or Opportunity Thief. They will have connections to channel their stolen goods through, and they will put more scrutiny and planning into a burglary. A Prowler probably started as an Opportunity Thief, and chose to become more organized in order to gain more from their robbery. Their tactics include targeting and studying their victims habits and schedules, and they are very thorough during a burglary.

Targeted Burglars

These people are specialized burglars. After a few years of Prowling, a Burglar will decide to Target specific high-value items. They know what they want, they do rigorous research, and know how long it will take the Police to respond to an Alarm. Targeted Burglars are often part of a Ring. These rings are nationwide, so items stolen in one state are shipped to others to be sold. Targeted Thief’s will sometimes have an Insider, a connection to someone at an insurance company. This means they know the value of their targeted item, and most of the details about the security around that item.

Complete Burglars

A Complete Burglar is similar to a Prowler in their theft methods, but they have the professionalism of a Targeted Burglar. When a house is completely bare after a robbery, a Complete Burglar was involved. Like Targeted Burglars, a Complete Burglar will have Insiders and a Ring. An Insider will tell them that you are going on vacation, and a moving truck will arrive to take every item in your house.

The best way to prevent theft, whether from any type of Burglar, is to have a Security System and to use it. A Security System will notify the police in the event that a Professional Burglar has entered your home or business. If you left a door unlocked, and your security system is armed, the intruder may have an easy way into your house, but the Alarm will sound once he enters. If your Security System is well designed to prevent theft you won’t have to worry nearly as much about burglary.