London, March 31 (IANS) Middle-class families who have computers and gadgets on view through their home windows and have cheaper cars parked outside are at maximum risk from burglars.
But more expensive properties, with posh cars put off thieves, according to the Daily Express.
Burglars think the posh houses were more likely to have decent security alarms and locks, making it more difficult to break in.
The findings were revealed in a study of thieves on remand for burglary by Halifax Home Insurance.
The thieves were asked what they looked for in a home to target.
If a house looks too expensive, burglars are put off because they think the security would be too tight. Such homes also have more rooms, making valuables harder to find.
‘There’s no point in going for rich houses because they’ve only got the same stuff as ordinary houses, but it’s harder to find because there’s more rooms and they have better security,’ one thief said.
‘You want a neighbourhood that’s nice but not too nice – ideally a middle-class semi.’
The research also revealed that cars were noticed by burglars to assess if a property was worth targeting.
A Porsche 911, BMW X5, Audi R8, Range Rover or Jaguar XJ suggested the homeowner was more likely to have invested in security.
Games consoles are the most popular items to steal. Fifty-five percent of burglars said they aim to grab these.
Second are mobile phones, mainly BlackBerry and iPhones, at 49 percent. Jewellery is third at 40 percent, followed by alcohol (34 percent) and cigarettes (33 percent).
