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Robbers rarely target a house without some pre-planning or at least evaluating which house on a street to break into based on appearance or lack of security features.
A Royal Marine turned content creator recently shared a video on social media providing advice on how to protect your house and what you should do if you come face to face with an intruder.
Robin, who goes by the username @dutchintheusa, revealed some of the terrifying tactics burglars use and, unsurprisingly, the first thing criminals look for is a poorly lit property, which often signifies the owners are away or fast asleep.
He explained that dark entrances can attract intruders and it is wise to install security lights that are activated when the property is approached.
Robin said: “If you have lights that turn on when you walk up to the house, they don't like that.”
Similarly, homes without visible security cameras, signs or a Ring doorbell are often top of the list to target as security systems can catch them in action and in some cases alert cops instantly.
Another safety measure that often scares off anyone who shouldn’t be there are dogs, as some four-legged friends can be rather threatening if they are trained to alert their owners to home invaders.
In the video, which now has reached over 300,000 views, he also urged viewers to ensure that they lock all windows and doors before going to sleep, despite the warm weather.
He added: “Consider visible secondary locks or reinforcing strike plates to signal extra effort is required.”
Another less obvious piece of intel he shared was that intruders seek out easy places to hide and plan their attack from, such as shrubbery or other inconspicuous hiding places.
The marine advised his followers to: “Keep vegetation trimmed, maintain clear sightlines to entry points and place thorny or low-maintenance plants beneath windows to discourage close approaches.”
Robin also disclosed that robbers choose to target homes with tell tale signs that its residents have not been there for a while. Robin said: “Accumulated packages, overflowing mailboxes and empty driveways for days advertise absence.”
He suggested that worried residents: “Arrange package deliveries, request mail holds when away, use timed lights or run a car occasionally to create normal activity cues.”
The helpful video racked up thousands of comments, with some users sharing their own safety tips. One person wrote: “I don't know if this is true but I’ve heard they don’t like houses with the American flag because they think the homeowners have guns.”
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Home security is one of those things you probably don't give much thought to day-to-day, particularly if you live in an area where crime is low, but you'd assume most people would at least lock their doors as standard.
Of course, if you're leaving the house empty for any period of time, locking up would be second nature to pretty much everyone.
But how about when you or your family is actually in?
One woman has sparked a debate online after she revealed that her husband had criticized her for locking the front door while inside their home.
Writing anonymously on the forum MumsNet, the woman revealed that she locks the front door while she's in the house "not always but often enough that [other half] comments that I'm a bit obsessive about it and tbh I feel I'm a bit overly cautious."
She added: "Context is we live in a pleasant suburb in a peaceful neighborhood where there is a very low crime rate. However occasionally over the years people have had someone walk in through their unlocked front door in broad daylight - even when they were in - pinch stuff and scarper.
"It was quite a scary experience especially for one old person who was living alone. As I say this has happened maybe twice in the 12 years we've lived here. My thinking is 'better safe than sorry.'"
She revealed that her door locks with a key rather than a latch but added that she leaves the key inside the lock so it is easy to open in case of emergencies, and she makes sure to lock the front door "if ever we are in the back garden or upstairs or I'm leaving the (now adult) kids at home and they are upstairs."
The woman admitted her husband and their children "sometimes raise their eyes and think I'm being OTT" and admitted that "in terms of crime rate statistics in our area it's not really necessary" and didn't want to spark fear in her children for no reason, but chose to still lock the door just in case.
Her choice to lock up left commenters divided, with one writing: "I don’t lock ours in the day, unless I’m leaving the (teen) children home alone."
Another pointed out potential safety issues that locking the door could have in the event of an emergency, explaining: "If your front door is locked, how easy would it be to get out in the event of a fire? I always think the two have to be balanced against each other. Electrical faults, knocked over candles, kitchen fires etc do happen too. You need to ensure you can get out easily if there was a fire."
A third added: "I’d think more likelihood of needing to get out quickly than someone getting in and stealing stuff while you’re in the house. Our door needs locking with a key when inside so if someone moved the key that could delay getting out. Depends where you live and what your door is like though. Going into someone’s house while they are in is such a high-risk and low reward crime for the burglar that I can’t get that excited about it."
Someone else commented: "People always keep their doors locked? I've never heard of anyone doing this when they're home and would say it's OTT. Sometimes we leave it unlocked when we're out of the house if we're not going to be long."
Others agreed with the original poster, adding: "[You are not being unreasonable], I do it to. There are plenty of pros to doing this, and as far as I can see no cons", while another wrote: "Yes of course. You'd have to be a b***dy idiot to not lock your door," and: "I always lock my door. I thought most people did."
One user, who is an avid true crime fan, explained: "Always keep mine locked! Why on Earth wouldn’t you? Draw back of locking it…none. Possible draw back of not…? Theft/being murdered! I listen to way too many true crime podcasts to swan around with an unlocked door," while another wrote: "I always lock mine too! Can't see any reason not to. Why make it easy for passing chancers to get in?"
Someone also pointed out that not having the door locked could invalidate your home insurance claim in the event that someone did break in to rob the place.
"I amazes me there are people who DON'T have their door perpetually locked. Might want to check the small print in your home and contents insurance," they advised.
While the chances of someone walking into your unlocked house are pretty low, it's always a possibility so it's better to be safe than sorry and lock the door - just make sure you also have a quick and accessible way of escaping should an emergency such as a fire occur inside.
1. A secret drawer in the windowsill
2. A nifty set of rotating bookshelves
3. A secret bookshelf
4. It's a birdhouse... or is it?
5. Hide your belongings in boxers that look a lot like a jar of grains
6. A secret chair compartment
7. Nobody's ever going to check a diaper when stealing your stuff at the beach
8. My only question with this is... how does it open?
9. Taking the right steps to secure your home... literally
10. What a nice family photo - oh wait
11. Nobody will ever find my secret candy stash again
12. Though I guess having blank CDs in this day and age is a little suspicious...
13. Don't mind me, I'm just charging my phone...
14. Take the sting out of any burglary with this "hornet's nest"
15. This toy jar isn't monkeying around
Well, there you have it folks. Dealing with thieves can be next to impossible, and it's pretty much inevitable that you'll be targeted at some point or another. When that happens, you can use some of these hacks to ensure that the damage will at least be limited.A ring camera has captured the frightening moment a man demanded to know where a homeowner’s daughter was before breaking into the home.
The disturbing incident unfolded on Tuesday (April 7) in Fairfield, where a woman and child were inside the property as the suspect attempted to force his way in.
The situation quickly escalated into a violent confrontation once the homeowner’s husband returned.
The viral footage shows the suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Thomas Nichols, outside the home on the 1700 block of Burbank Court.
In the clip, he repeatedly demands to know where the homeowner’s daughter is, while aggressively kicking the front door and shouting threats.
He also asks "who was in there" and how everyone inside was doing, before threatening to "end" the homeowner when no response was given.
The man inside can be heard saying he had never seen Nichols before.
Police said the suspect initially tried to break in by kicking the front door. When that failed, he reportedly gained entry through a sliding glass door.
At the time of the break-in, the homeowner’s husband was away but monitoring the situation through a home security camera.
"The homeowner’s husband, who was away at the time, observed the suspect through a home security camera and immediately returned to the residence," the Fairfield Police Department said in a statement shared on Facebook.
"Prior to his arrival, the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Jason Nichols, attempted to break in by kicking the front door. When unsuccessful, he gained entry through a sliding glass door.
"As the suspect entered the home, the homeowner returned, armed himself with a shovel, and confronted Nichols," the police said, adding that a physical altercation broke out between the two men, leaving both with head injuries.
Officers arrived within minutes and located Nichols outside the home. They took him into custody without further incident.
He was transported to NorthBay Medical Center for treatment before being booked into Solano County Jail.
"Officers obtained a bail enhancement, and Nichols was booked on multiple felony charges," they said. "We are grateful that the family is safe and commend our officers for their swift response in bringing this dangerous situation to a safe resolution."
According to reports, his bail has been set at $35,000, and his next court appearance is scheduled for April 13.
A man has shared his four rules for other men to follow if they find themselves walking behind a woman late at night.
Tom Bidgood has built a sizeable audience on TikTok, with nearly 600,000 followers. His latest video has struck a chord. In it, he lays out four simple things men can do when they find themselves walking behind a woman at night. At the time of writing, the video has 1.7 million views.
The attention the video has received is not surprising. Many women describe feeling tense when footsteps close in behind them after dark. Quiet streets, limited lighting, and the uncertainty of a stranger’s intentions can make even routine journeys feel risky.
Past experiences, stories from friends, and news reports all feed that tension. Small choices by the person behind them can either defuse that worry or make it worse.
That is the backdrop for Bidgood’s advice. The premise is not that every man is dangerous. It is that a few thoughtful actions can reduce the chance of someone in front feeling trapped, watched, or pursued.
In the 40 second video, Bidgood offers four rules.
The comment section shows why the video blew up. Many men and women thanked Bidgood for turning a tricky situation into clear steps. One viewer shared a positive experience: “I crossed the road and the young woman actually thanked me. I was taken back as I wondered how she knew I was doing it for her.”
Others pushed back. A dissenting reply read: “I don't have to change anything because of the crimes of a few men. I'm not a danger and if women feel fear near me then that's their problem to get over. Not mine.”
There was also strong support for the guidance: “Dear fellow men: follow this creator’s excellent advice, and don’t be like some the fragile men in the comments. Be a good person.”
Safety is not only about statistics. It is also about how a moment feels. A little extra space, a visible face, or a quick detour can turn a tense walk into a normal one. For many women, that difference is huge.
Bidgood’s rules are easy to remember and cost almost nothing. They are not about blame. They are about awareness. If more people adopt them, a late-night walk home might feel calmer for everyone.
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