With over 30,000 burglaries taking place every year in the Ireland, we’ll take a closer look at the top items most frequently targeted by criminals during a home break in. The most common items are ones that can be carried easily in a short space of time without being noticed, so items such as furniture, sports equipment or large and bulky electric goods don’t tend to be the haul of choice for burglars.

Jewellery – valuable, lightweight, small and easy to put in the pocket, jewellery such as rings, necklaces and watches are the #1 thing on a burglar’s list of items to grab. They can be sold easily to another person and are not easily identifiable, yet items with precious stones in them such as diamonds or rubies, or items that are made of gold can bring the burglar a lot of financial reward.

Money – again, if you have money lying around your home such as in a savings jar then this is likely to be a target. For thieves who break in when you are at home, it will be very easy to swipe your wallet or purse that is sat by the front door. Not only will they have instant access to your physical money in the form of notes, but also bank cards can be used for their details or smaller contactless payments.

Computer equipment – gone are the days of big and bulky computers and heavy monitors, and the lightweight versions they’ve been replaced with such as laptops and flatscreen monitors are much easier to steal. More often than not thieves will see laptops as an easy target thanks to their slimline design and high selling price. Included in this are the numerous games consoles such as PlayStations and Xboxes, plus all the accessories.

Electronic goods – easy to pick up and place in a bag during a robbery, small electronic items such as cameras, GoPros, mobile phones and numerous gadgets around the home are a top choice. A burglar will only be looking for the potential resale value of items and are likely to be in the know as to what constitutes an older model and less likely to take it.

Documentation – a more modern phenomena associated with burglaries is the stealing of personal documents. The primary reason for this is to commit identity fraud, or sell your details on to some other party who intends to do the same, in order to extract money from you. These can be items such as utility bills and bank statements, however they are much more likely to be searching for items such as a driving license or passport.

Clothing – with the value of some clothes being so high, burglars are also keen to take a look in your wardrobe. A pair of designer trainers or a jacket from brands such as Gucci, Versace or Louis Vuitton can start anywhere from €500, and there are bound to be lots of people in their criminal network willing to pay a discounted price for such stolen luxury items.

Here at CCTV Galway, many of our customers come to us after a burglary or break in where their precious items have been taken. Not only does effective CCTV prevent burglaries by discouraging would-be thieves, but in the event that a burglary does take place, the camera systems assist the police in identifying the culprits, bringing them to justice and recovering your stolen belongings. If you’re interested in finding out more about CCTV systems to protect your home, family and belongings, then give us a call today to discuss your options.