A former burglar who uses her knowledge for good rather than gain has warned people not to fall into a common trap with your home security over the summer.
Jenny Radcliffe has reminded homeowners to not let the hot weather get to their heads and urged Brits to avoid making the same key mistake, which a lot of us are guilty of, at all costs.
The 51-year-old describes herself as a 'social engineer', but adds that she is 'also known as a professional burglar, physical penetration tester…though it’s difficult to say that one to old ladies on trains'. As you can imagine.
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But in other words, she is a ex-intruder who knows a thing or two about sneaking inside somewhere she shouldn't be.
She first dabbled in breaking and entering as a teenager, beginning by trespassing on empty properties in Liverpool back in the 80s after learning the tricks of the trade from her parents - but she insists she was never light fingered.
"There was a big old empty house on the corner, a beautiful old house," Jenny told inews. "We’d test ourselves to see if we could get in, not to steal anything. Just to have a look around because we were bored."
This is obviously a slippery slope which could have led her down a dark path of a life of crime, but she instead decided to use her specialist knowledge as a force for good after meeting a footballer in a bar.
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"He asked us to test out the new security system on his house," Jenny said. "I got in just by talking to his cleaner.
"People don’t suspect me, because I don’t appear threatening. But you never know if someone is who they say they are.”
Now, Jenny is a burglar for hire. Sounds strange, but who better to test out your home security system than someone you're trying to keep out of it?
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She reckons she can spot weak points in a security system a mile off - especially as Brits often shoot themselves in the foot with their own behaviour towards protecting their properties.
And in the summer time, there's a certain issue that becomes something of an epidemic and burglars are spoiled for choice as a result.
So, what is this schoolboy error that so many people make each year?
Well, according to Jenny, sharing too much of your life online makes you a sitting duck in the eyes of a thief.
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If you're flooding your social media pages with snaps of what you're up to each day, your belongings and your home, you're essentially giving criminals your daily itinerary which can help them decipher the best time to strike.
For example, if you post pictures of your weekly meet-up with your pals, or perhaps the flashy gifts you just received for your birthday, you are offering burglars a window of opportunity and a shopping list of stuff they want to steal.
A lot of people fall into this trap over the summer period especially, as they just can't resist posting a picture of their 'hot dog legs' as they lounge on a sun lounger while enjoying their holiday.
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However, Jenny says you may as well just stick a sign in the window inviting crooks to rummage through your home without the worry of being disturbed.
She continued: "People don’t realise that your online life is connected to your physical property.
"Every time we go on holiday, we post about it on social media. You wouldn’t have a sign on your front door saying ‘this house is unoccupied’ but we do in the digital realm.
"Someone can very easily start putting patterns together or weaknesses together. And it’s just a case of making yourself a harder target than that. Don’t make yourself the easiest target in your area."
She isn't suggesting you throw your neighbours under the bus, but just make sure your house isn't the one on the street which will look like low-hanging fruit to someone on the rob.
Common home security mistakes:
- Not protecting your CCTV system and monitoring it regularly
- Leaving tools around in accessible areas (such as an unlocked shed)
- Being too quick to trust your neighbours or cleaner with a spare key
- Forgetting simple deterrents (like having your lights on a timer to make it look like someone is home)
- Having foliage around the house which could be used to hide in - instead, keep a spacious perimeter around your home
Topics: Crime, Home, UK News, Holiday, Social Media
Olivia Burke