Darryl Kennedy, who ran a professional burglary gang, has revealed his best tips for ‘burglar-proofing’ your home. The ex-con says there is no need to spend money on fancy gadgets
An ex-convict who claims to have broken into 20,000 homes has shared how to deter thiefs on a budget – and it can be as simple as using a sticker.
Darryl Kennedy, 62, from Salford, Manchester, was taught how to burgle properties by his father, at a mere nine-years-old. He went onto steal from the rich and famous before landing himself in jail four times. Now reformed, the dad-of-three shares his wisdom through volunteer work with the police and universities.
And with Brits trying to cope with on-and-off heatwaves, the former thief has warned that homeowners must be extra vigilant. He has revealed several cheap hacks which will help prevent break-ins this summer. From using your radio, to opening selective windows, here’s what he had to say.
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“Summer has always been a time for break ins and an opportunity for burglars,” said Darryl. “People leave their patio doors open and windows open in the heat. Opportunists will go around, especially in the hot weather, knowing that people nip out of the house and forget to shut their back doors.”
However, he advises that you don’t keep all your windows closed – as this tells burglars clearly that you are not in. Instead, he suggests leaving some upstairs windows open with a loud radio playing to make potential thieves think you are home.
He added: “When burglars go out in the day to find a property to hit, they choose houses where all the windows are completely shut. That is a no-no. Leave your upstairs windows open and always leave a radio on in the hallway quite loud on a talk show with mostly voices. That will deter burglars because if they hear noise or voices they will just go to the next house and leave yours alone.”
Other top tips to protect your home include investing in a composite door, getting laminated glass on your windows, and buying fake security cameras to cover all angles of your house. Darryl said: “A lot of people should at least buy dummy cameras to put on the side of the house. Burglars don’t know if they are real or not so they will be deterred.
“Not everyone has hundreds of pounds for a real security system, but you can get four fake ones on Temu for like £14. If you are paying lots of money for new windows and doors make sure they are secure. Get a composite door, laminated glass and four lever lock windows. If you don’t have laminated glass, then it is very easy for burglars to break the windows because they shatter like a car windscreen.
“With laminated glass it just cracks, so they are not going to stand there for 15 minutes trying to pull each piece of glass without cutting themselves and leaving DNA behind. Make sure you have SmartWater stickers on your doors because that will guarantee security. I would say 99 percent of burglars won’t try and enter a house with that sticker.”
For those going away on holiday this summer, the dad says it is important to be hyper aware at airports as many burglars go there to scout out empty homes. He advises not putting your address on any luggage tags and, if you do, make sure to keep an eye on who is around you.
For the same reason, he says people should avoid boasting about their trip to neighbours and on social media. Darryl said: “Don’t advertise that you are going away, just keep it to yourself. You need to be very careful when you are in the airport. If you have a baggage label on your suitcase with your address be very careful about who stands near you. I used to do that many years ago at Manchester airport. If you walk around the check-in desk you can see addresses on suitcases in the area and know who is away.
“Be reluctant to tell all your neighbours about your holiday, because it might get around to someone who is criminally minded. You just don’t know who you are telling. Definitely avoid posting your valuables and your holidays on social media. You are just asking to be a victim of crime.”
For long trips where people can’t afford to blast the radio, Darryl says to keep your windows closed and your curtains open. He also recommended investing in light switches for your lamps so that they can come on for parts of the day. He said: “A lot of people for some reason when they are going away shut the curtains downstairs which is very silly. If a burglar goes over the same area and sees a house with drawn curtains the next morning then they know the occupants are away.”
Back in the day, Darryl developed a reputation as a notorious cat burglar both in the UK and around the world and even headed up a professional burglary gang. He focused on luxury homes, swiping diamonds and other precious jewellery before leaving without a trace.
In his burglary career, spanning around half a century, Darryl estimates he has broken into more than 20,000 homes. But after a five-year prison sentence, the ex-thief decided it was time for a change, and he says he deeply regrets the path he took.
He added: “I went down that slippery road for 50 years of my life and I regret not having a career in a different world. I know I caused so much misery, and I regret that.
“My father got me into burglary from a young age, and that is something I could never change.”
