Overview

• Published in Criminology, researchers enlisted 160 convicted burglars to navigate virtual home environments and rate each property’s break-in attractiveness based on perceived risk and loot potential.
• Dense front shrubs scored highest in appeal by offering cover from detection, while open yards were deemed less inviting.
• Visible cues of valuables, such as large TV boxes and gun-ownership signs, significantly increased burglars’ estimated reward.
• Parked cars in driveways deterred would-be intruders by signaling occupancy and elevating the risk of being caught.
• Experts advise homeowners to remove visible packaging, secure garages and entry points, use automated lighting and surveillance cameras, clear mailboxes regularly and engage neighbors to simulate an occupied home.