Burglary Tourism: What Is It, and Is Your Home a Target?
It may be one of the scariest experiences of your life – finding out that someone broke into your home and stole your belongings. On average, 3,062 burglaries happen in the US every day. Now, an alarming trend is popping up across the country. Individuals are traveling to the US in order to target wealthier neighborhoods for burglaries. Law enforcement is calling this type of crime burglary tourism.
What is Burglary Tourism?
According to the FBI and law enforcement around the country, thieves are traveling to the US and committing burglaries in wealthier neighborhoods. In many cases, the suspects are coming from Chile as individuals from there can visit the US for 90 days due without first obtaining a tourist visa.
Often times, the burglars are part of sophisticated crime rings. Upon arriving in the US, they research which neighborhoods have wealthier residents. Then, they stake out their victims and break into the homes when they are unoccupied. The thieves are said to have burglarized numerous upscale homes across the country.
Such burglary tourism can often involve high-tech tools of crime. For example, the burglars may install cameras to remotely observe the comings and goings of the victims to plan the best time to break into the home. Recently, in Scarsdale, a resident found a wireless camera in their yard, and it is suspected this was placed by an intended burglar. In other cases, law enforcement has recovered Wi-Fi signal jammers, which may allow the thieves to enter homes undetected.
How to Prevent Becoming a Victim of Burglary Tourism
According to the FBI, there are several tips you can follow to protect your home from a home invasion.
- Vary your daily routine.
- Don’t post on social media that you’re on vacation.
- Utilize a doorbell camera with an alarm system.
- Keep inside lights on with timers.
- Take photos of valuables, and keep those items in a safe.
- Don’t leave large amounts of cash in the home.
When it comes to high-tech burglary tourism, it’s a good idea to keep vigilant. For example, keep an eye for anyone placing something on your property. Notice anyone hanging around your house that you don’t know. Look about your yard to see if anything looks different or out of place, as there may be a hidden camera.
References:
- Bobby Welber, “Criminals May Have Pointed Camera At Your Upstate New York Home,” Hudson Valley Post (Oct. 20, 2024). Available at: https://hudsonvalleypost.com/criminals-may-have-pointed-camera-at-your-upstate-new-york-home/ (last accessed Oct. 23, 2024).
- Dan Murphy, “Hidden Cameras Found in Wealthy Westchester Yards: Burglary Tourism?,” Yonkers Times (Aug. 8, 2024). Available at: https://yonkerstimes.com/hidden-cameras-in-wealthy-yards-one-found-in-scarsdale/ (last accessed Oct. 23, 2024).
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