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Jailed burglars offer prevention tips in police video

The Columbus Police Department's "From the Big House to Your House" video features three burglars offering crime-prevention tips.

By Ben Hooper
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COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 26 (UPI) -- An Ohio police department seeking tips on preventing burglaries turned to a trio of experts -- convicted burglars serving prison sentences for the crime.

The two-part "From the Big House to Your House" video, produced by the Columbus Police Department, features three burglars serving prison sentences offering tips on how to secure homes from thieves.

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The video was created with the assistance of the Ohio prison system and the men featured were compensated only with letters to the parole board detailing their cooperation.

"Myself, I'm going to go up and knock on the door, and if I don't hear nothing, nobody answers, or I don't see no lights come on, no dog in there barking, if I don't see no wires on the windows for the alarm system and I can look through your windows. When you're not there, shut your windows so we can't see what's in there," a convicted burglar named Joel says in the video.

Another burglar, named William, offered some unconventional advice for proving that a burglar alarm is installed and functioning: "Sometimes set it off so people know it's there. Don't just buy it and never set it off."

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The third burglar, Adam, said thieves intentionally target "older people" because it's easier "to burglarize them and get away with it."

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