The No. 1 Technique to Deter a Burglar

The No. 1 Technique to Deter a Burglar

A burglary happens in the U.S. about every 25.7 seconds, according to the FBI.

Most burglaries happen during the day. In 2019, the loss from burglaries totaled nearly $3 billion, with 7% of them leading to personal injury. And only 30% of Americans have properly secured their home.

So if you're reading this, there's a good chance your home is at risk.

Let's say someone does break in, and worse yet, you are home when it occurs. As I've written before in my book, The Doctor's Protocol Field Manual, there's one thing you can do to scare the burglar away...

Jack MacLean is a former burglar. He stole more than $133 million in jewels in his career as a thief. After his arrest and conviction, he decided to reform. In prison, he interviewed some 300 other burglars about their preferred tricks and tactics. He compiled what he learned in his book: Secrets of a Superthief.

It turns out 100% of the burglars admitted that one technique would scare them away from a property in an instant... They all were afraid of a blast from an extremely loud air horn. Search online or go to your local marine supply store. You can buy an air horn for around $20. Buy the $20 model... $10 horns are not loud enough. Falcon makes ideal marine horns.

Simple, safe techniques like this are the preferred approach to stopping a threat. The threat disappears, and no one gets hurt.

In my Field Manual, I cover everything including how to survive a financial crisis, how to prepare for a natural disaster, and what you need to do in a medical emergency.

If you want to be ready for the next crisis or disaster, click here to learn more.

Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,

Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
May 28, 2022

Reader question of the week... What does it mean for me if a company issues more stock?

Q: What does it mean when there's going to be more shares of stock? Do I need to worry about it? – B.H.

A: It could mean one of two things... but only one of them is cause for concern.

Sometimes, companies do what's called a "stock split." That's when they change a stock's price in line with the number of shares.

A recent example is Alphabet (GOOGL), which announced that a 20-for-1 stock split will occur in July. That would take Alphabet's share price from its current level around $2,100 to $105. So if you hold, say, 10 shares of GOOGL, you'd hold 200 after the split. But the value of your total position doesn't change.

The main benefit of a stock split is reducing the cost of the share price and increasing the number of shares available, which allows for smaller investors to buy the stock. And sometimes, companies with extra-low share prices will do a "reverse stock split" in which you end up holding fewer shares at a higher price per share. That can make it easier for some institutional investors to buy in.

The reasons and benefits for splits are debated in the academic literature, but suffice it to say that nothing has changed in the value of the company or any reasons you might have to buy (or not buy) it.

But sometimes companies issue brand-new shares of stock, typically a way of raising money. And that's a problem for existing shareholders. It means that for the same price you paid for your shares, you now own a smaller percentage of the company, called share dilution. Sometimes you'll still do well in the end after share dilution, depending on how the company spends the money it raised from issuing shares. But as an investor, it's something to pay closer attention to.

Keep sending your questions, comments, and suggestions our way. We read every e-mail... [email protected].