Lightning Does Strike Twice and so does a Burglar

Many people don’t realize it, but if your home is burglarized once then your chances of your home being burglarized twice increases.  Businesses and churches are no different.  That is the case in Missouri City, Texas where police are looking for a man who has repeatedly broken into the same local church.  Now the church’s pastor and parishioners are taking turns spending the night in the building. 

The break-ins began in January at the First Advent Church.  That’s when the police were called because someone had broken a window to get into the church.  Nothing was stolen, but the pastor told police it was obvious that someone rummaged through the building.  As FortBendNow.com reports – a board was placed over the broken window, but it was taken off and someone again got into the church.  A series of other break-ins were to follow.  The most recent happened Sunday night when the pastor and his wife got a look at the suspect as he fled.  The intruder left behind a backpack and a cell phone on a charger. The pastor told police it looked like the man had been using the church computer.

Luckily nothing was stolen and in this scenario no one was hurt, but the story could have been much different.  Plus, there is definitely something to be learned.  You can’t just expect to board up a window and the problem be solved.  This is where a good alarm system comes in which can protect your entry points.  For a church, like a place of business, surveillance is always a good idea.  Not only can a surveillance system produce evidence of the perpetrator if something does happen, but it can be used as a source of intimidation.  Even dummy cameras may do the trick.

As mentioned, if you are unlucky enough to have been burglarized once, you are at even at a higher risk in the future.  Whatever attracted the thief the first time around, likely still exists the second time around.  That’s because he or she knows the vulnerable areas of your property and the layout once inside.  Plus, the thief knows that you have likely replaced what has been stolen with newer and often pricier items.

Many break-ins, whether the second or first, can be avoided.  It is of interest to know that the most likely things to be stolen in a burglary are cash, small electronics, home computers, cameras, jewelry, tools, and hand guns.  So keep those items out of sight and hide them in less obvious places like in your closet or under the mattress.

Remember, burglary is a crime of opportunity where entry is usually gained due to the carelessness or ignorance of the property owner.  Few people ever really bother to prepare for the worse until something has happened to them or to a neighbor.  Don’t let that happen to you.  A home alarm system costs only cost a fraction of what the average dollar amount is would be in a typical burglary.  Isn’t the money worth it?