Staged Break-In Attempts: How to Test Your Home’s Real Security Weak Points

You don’t really know how secure your home is until someone tries to get in. A staged break-in attempt lets you discover the weak locks, blind zones, predictable routes, and lighting failures that burglars rely on—before they do.

If you haven’t built a strong perimeter yet, read Perimeter Security Fundamentals first so you understand how intruders approach a property before they ever touch your doors.

1. Start With a Walk-Around at Night

Approach your home exactly the way an intruder would. Do this after dark when visibility is lowest.

• Walk along the sidewalk with your hood up
• Check if the driveway or porch is well-lit
• Stand near gates, windows, and fences to see what is visible
• Look for tools, ladders, or objects left outside

If you spot dark pockets or blocked sightlines, review Lighting Options to clean up visibility.

2. Test Your Cameras for Blind Zones

Open your live camera feeds on your phone and slowly walk the same paths. Stop frequently and see what the camera actually captures.

• Walk along the side of the house
• Stand behind vehicles
• Move through the backyard corners
• Walk directly up to doors and windows

If you disappear from view even though you’re “in frame,” fix it using the Blind Zone Guide.

3. Identify Weak Entry Points

Try every common entry point the same way criminals do—light pressure, then firm pressure.

• Pull side gates firmly to test latch strength
• Push on windows to check for movement or rattling
• Check sliding doors for easy pry points
• Test the garage interior door for flex and lock strength

If your garage interior door feels weak, reinforce it with the Garage Interior Door Guide.

4. Try to Exploit Overlooked Areas

Most homeowners forget about attic hatches, crawlspace openings, and shed access. Intruders don’t forget these.

• Check if the attic hatch can be pushed up
• Inspect crawlspace doors for loose screws or weak panels
• Look for storage areas with no locks at all
• Check if the pool gate can be lifted or jiggled open

Use the Attic & Crawlspace Security Guide to harden these overlooked entries.

5. Simulate Package Theft and Porch Snooping

Stand on your porch for 10–15 seconds while checking your phone’s camera feed. You’re testing:

• Whether the porch camera captures a clear face
• If lighting is too dim or blown out
• If shadows hide your hands or pockets
• If motion activation triggers too late

If your porch lighting blinds the camera or leaves silhouettes, adjust it using the Backlight and Glare Guide.

6. Test Your Locks and Reinforcements

You’re not forcing entry—you’re checking realism. Light kicks, shoulder pressure, and pull-tests show you where the weaknesses are.

• Deadbolts should not wiggle or shift under pressure
• Strike plates shouldn’t flex
• Weatherstripping shouldn’t allow pry tools
• Sliding doors shouldn’t lift or rattle

7. Check Your Yard for Crime Tools

Many homeowners leave out exactly what a burglar needs:

• Ladders
• Garden tools
• Loose bricks or pavers
• Unsecured storage bins

Clean this up using Securing Exterior Stored Tools.

8. Quick Staged Break-In Checklist

• All gates tested for real strength
• Camera blind zones mapped and corrected
• Lighting tested from every approach angle
• Garage and side doors confirmed reinforced
• Weak locks identified and upgraded
• Tools and ladders removed from yard access
• Attic and crawlspace access secured

A staged break-in attempt gives you the truth: **Where intruders will actually go—and whether you’d notice them.** Fix the weak points now and you eliminate most real-world threats.