No matter how much has changed in society, some things seem to keep up with the times. Take break-ins and burglaries, for example. Even though we have state-of-the-art security systems nowadays to protect our homes, thieves have also adapted to the advancements in home security.

That being said, there are a lot of simple, age-old techniques that burglars still employ when attempting to rob a house. That's why it is important to be well-informed and educated on basic burglary tactics. Sometimes, using this general knowledge and common sense can save you from a terrifying and detrimental break-in.

One Texas woman had a close encounter that could have been quite dangerous. Kim Cernigliaro was home alone when she heard someone pounding on her front door. Thankfully, her instincts told her that something was off about the situation and she didn't respond. When she peered through the stained glass in her door, she saw a man's silhouette outside.

IMAGE SOURCE: FACEBOOK

After waiting 30 minutes to ensure that the unexpected visitor was gone, she finally opened her front door and found a rubber band wrapped around her doorknob. According to Kim's local Sherriff, burglars can barge into the house as soon as you unlatch the door using this method. To spread awareness of this potential danger, Kim shared her experience on Facebook. Her post has since gone viral, with well over 150,000 shares within the popular social media community.

IMAGE SOURCE: FACEBOOK

Regardless of this technique's effectiveness, and whether or not it will become popular among thieves, it is always beneficial to be informed of the different approaches that thieves are using to successfully rob homes. To get started, here are a few basic safety tips that can help you become a less enticing target to home burglaries:

Don’t leave old mail and newspapers outside your house. 

Burglars often scope out a house and gather as much information as they can in order to determine whether it is a worthwhile target. Things like mail subscriptions and parcel packaging can give away a lot more information about your household than you'd think.

Leaving mail or discarded items outside your house can give them invaluable information about things like how often you are home or whether you are away on vacation. If you do plan to go out of town, have a neighbor or family member take care of your mail and parcels for you.

Get a home security system or fake home security with signs if you can’t actually get it installed.

Home security systems are a worthy investment, but not everyone has the budget for it. Even if you can't afford the real thing, you should consider displaying a home security sign on the front of your property. While some burglars know that this is a bluff, most thieves would not take the risk. With so many homes on a street, it only makes sense to target a house that doesn't boast a home security sign on their property.

Make Sure Your Home Is Well-Lit

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Criminals like to work in the dark where they are hard to detect. If your house is well-lit, it will be harder for them to stay inconspicuous while trying to break into your home.  No burglar wants to be under the spotlight!

Hide Your Valuables In Unlikely Places​

Experienced burglars know to go straight for jewelry boxes and chest of drawers to find valuables, so you should avoid keeping your prized possessions in those obvious places. Instead, try keeping your most valuable assets in unlikely places such as the laundry room or your children's playroom. Most burglars like to work as quickly as they can while inside the home to minimize the risk of getting caught, so they may not have time to look in those areas before giving up.

Reinforce Your Doors

An age-old tactic that is still popular among criminals is simply kicking in the door. It's actually not as difficult as it seems, and a flimsy door makes it all that much easier for the perpetrators.  Reinforcing your doors with better wood and locks is a worthwhile investment and can make a huge difference - it just might make your unwanted visitor give up and move on to the next target.

Be sure to SHARE these valuable tips with your friends and family.