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Contrary to popular belief, a high percentage of burglaries occur during the daylight hours, since in today's world, it's not unusual for all residents to hold outside employment.
A common ploy of these daytime burglars, particularly in rural or sparsely populated areas, involves a simple pretext. Often these criminals will simply drive up to a home that appears unoccupied at the time. They knock at the door and if there is no response, they will proceed to check for an alarm and then, if the home is found to be vulnerable, they will break in. If, however, a resident responds to their knock, the would-be burglar offers a low key pretext, such as claiming to be lost and seeking directions.
Frequently another ploy they use is claiming to be searching for a lost dog or cat. Usually these folks sound quite credible and are prepared to give a detailed description of their spurious missing pet. When the homeowner advises that no such animal has been seen in the area, the would-be perpetrator departs and tries the same approach at nearby homes until an unoccupied target has been located. It is recommended that in cases where a stranger makes an inquiry concerning a lost pet, that the homeowner request a phone number to call in the event of a subsequent sighting. If the visitor is reluctant to leave a number, it might make sense to report the incident to the police. In the event a telephone number is provided, it's an easy matter to determine whether it is a valid number.
In any event, it is always a good idea to note the license plate number and a detailed description of the vehicle, as well as the description of any stranger making an innocent sounding inquiry. Descriptions should be jotted down immediately after the visitor departs. This information should be retained for a few weeks so it can be made available to local police in the event a burglary occurs nearby in the in the near future.
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