Protecting your home from burglars

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - It's taking more and more to stop burglars from getting into your home.

Locking your doors and turning on your home alarm when you leave isn't enough anymore.

Brian O'Connor the owner of Target Alarm Systems has been in the business for decades and has seen some brazen crimes.

O’Connor explained, “The disturbing part is that it seems like the ones that are breaking in have upped their nerve and they're not concerned about whether someone is home at night or not." 

He told 22News a home alarm will stop an intruder, but it has to be on and it has to cover your whole home.

He said, “I had a customer where they got in the garage, got on the roof of the car and pushed up the hatch to the attic. Then they just went through the sheet rock; sheet rock doesn't stop anyone once they are in the house."  

Just this past weekend, Springfield Police said a break-in suspect tried to force his way into an Ambrose Street home.

When the homeowner caught him in the act, he pretended to be an inspector for ADT.

Instead of letting him in, that homeowner called 911, wrote down his license number.

A short time later, 48-year-old Kenneth Spence was arrested.

Here are some tips for homeowners:

• Lock doors & windows
• Keep home alarm on at night
• Turn the lights on
• Keep your shrubs cut back away from the home
• Keep watch for your neighbors