Our homes are very important to us; they protect the most important people in our lives, and they defend our most prized possessions. Unfortunately, our homes are not always the strong fortresses we imagine them to be; often, our homes are the victims of theft and damage that are hard to avoid or halt.
In terms of home burglary and crime statistics in 2016, nearly 88% of burglaries in the United States were residential, with 38% of burglaries including a firearm. Regardless of whether anything is taken from the home, burglars often get away unscathed, especially if the home lacks any sort of home security system.
How do thieves know where to strike, and when? In startling home burglary facts, it was reported that the majority of break-ins are committed by burglars who live nearby, and who can become familiar with the daily movements of a home, but that’s not all.
In a new turn of events, there have been reports of thieves using a new method of learning about a home’s layout prior to performing a break-in. This approach has made it very difficult for authorities to stop burglars from gaining valuable information about the design of a home and how to enter, and homeowners need to know about it.
The New Way to Target Homes
It has been reported by police that burglars are now using unmanned drones as their latest break-in tool. Drones have been a very popular tool and toy, as of late, and they are easily purchased and inexpensive. They are used for all kinds of purposes and have recently caught the eye of thieves who want to get a better look.
Essentially, thieves are using the drones by flying them over properties to get better visuals of the property’s layout. With some of the higher-end designs, thieves can have the visuals sent to them from the drone, and they can also record videos and take pictures.
This kind of information is extremely helpful for burglars, as they can use the information for a variety of things, including learning the layout of a home, learning what kinds of doors they use, seeking out security cameras or guard dogs, and even finding out whether anyone is home.
This new technology is becoming worrisome for authorities, as there aren’t very many rules against low-flying drones in public areas. Someone who is enjoying flying their drone in a park could just as well be using it to zoom in on a backyard across the road without detection. The drone is the newest tool in a burglar’s belt to avoid a property while still getting all of the information they need for a later date.