20 Things Combat Veterans Do That Make Burglars Skip Their House (Most Homeowners Don't)

🔗 The Complete Home Security Method I Teach, Written Down Room by Room: https://samgarrettbooks.com In this video, Sam Garrett breaks down 20 practical, no-nonsense habits adapted from combat veterans that make homes look like terrible targets to burglars. Rather than relying on expensive, high-tech fortresses or tactical paranoia, the core principle is about raising a burglar's cost, lowering their confidence, and removing the "soft target" profile in under eight seconds. Burglars are opportunists performing a fast cost-benefit analysis on your front lawn, looking for homes that appear empty, easy, and provide a quick escape. The guide covers simple changes like walking your own perimeter as a stranger, cutting down concealment shrubs below knee-height, lighting approaches rather than the decorative front, securing ladders, and reinforcing door frames with three-inch screws instead of relying solely on expensive deadbolts. Additional habits include avoiding oversharing travel plans online, keeping the inventory out of sight from open garage doors, running low-key family emergency drills, and using dogs for their noise rather than their bite. Ultimately, the video emphasizes that home security isn't about secret military tactics; it is about consistency, common-sense environmental design, and doing the small, boring things that make a criminal look at your house and move on to the next one. 0:00 Introduction and the 8-Second Burglar Calculation 1:15 Habit 1: Walking Your Own Perimeter Like a Stranger 2:10 Habit 2: Cutting Down Hiding Places (CPTED) 3:35 Habit 3: Lighting the Approaches, Not the House 4:40 Habit 4: Controlling the Pattern of Life (Mail and Packages) 5:40 Habit 5: Locking Up Ladders 6:25 Habit 6: Fixing the Door Frame Before the Lock 7:25 Habit 7: Thinking in Layers (Defense in Depth) 8:30 Habit 8: Varying Your Daily Routine 9:25 Habit 9: Knowing Your Neighbors by Name 10:20 Habit 10: Protecting Your OPSEC Online 11:25 Habit 11: Keeping Your Inventory Out of Sight 12:15 Habit 12: Running Simple Family Drills 13:10 Habit 13: Making Your House Number Visible 13:50 Habit 14: The Nightly Checklist Round 14:40 Habit 15: Keeping a Dog for the Noise 15:35 Habit 16: Ditching the Outdoor Spare Key 16:20 Habit 17: Pinning and Securing Sliding Glass Doors 17:30 Habit 18: Evaluating Alarm and Weapon Signs 18:25 Habit 19: Noticing Who Is Noticing Your Street 19:35 Habit 20: Avoiding Unnecessary Confrontations 20:45 The Weekend Action Plan and Summary If you found this video useful, hit that like button, drop a comment with where you are watching from, and subscribe to support practical, level-headed security guides. Grab the Hard Target Handbook at samgarrettbooks.com to get all these room-by-room safety strategies in one place. Stay safe, stay aware, and make your house the one they skip. #HomeSecurity #BurglaryPrevention #CombatVeteran #SecurityTips #HomeDefense #SafetyFirst #PropertyCrime #CrimePrevention #SmartHomeSecurity #NeighborhoodWatch #SelfReliance #Preparedness #HomeSafety #SecureYourHome #LockYourDoors #BurglarProof #FamilySafety #TacticalMindset #SituationalAwareness #RealEstateSafety #HomeImprovement #SurvivalSkills #PersonalSafety #SecurePerimeter #Lockdown #BePrepared #SafetyAwareness #ExpertAdvice #HardTarget #SamGarrett