'Breaking and Entering'

Of all crimes reported in the United States, property crime ranks number one. The vast majority of burglaries happen at private homes during the day when most people are off to work.

And if it was easy for NBC security consultant Bill Stanton to break into a car without much interference, he says breaking into a home is even easier.

And again, he says it’s because neighbors aren’t watching out for each other.

Bill Stanton, security consultant: You know, everybody always says, “We live in a strong community. Our neighbors watch out.  We watch out for each other.” Well, we put that to the test.

If a stranger was trying to get into your house, would anyone notice?  Would they call the police?

So we found a family to volunteer their home in a residential neighborhood in suburban New York where there would be people on the street. Stanton played the role of burglar, dressed as a construction worker and openly appeared to be breaking into the home.

Again, we’ve told local authorities about his experiment just in case someone does call 911.

For this caper, Stanton brings along a partner in crime—an NBC staffer wearing a hidden camera. They pull up in a van posing as a road crew and right away engage a neighbor across the street.

Stanton (hidden camera footage): You’re okay with the cones here, right?

Neighbor: Doesn’t bother me

Stanton: Alright.

Stanton says being friendly makes him seem less suspicious.

Stanton: Right now I’m identifying an open window so that’s going to be my way in.

And with the neighbors watching, Stanton leans a ladder against the house and climbs in.

Rob Stafford, Dateline correspondent: You find a bedroom?

Stanton: Probably the most important room in their house.  It’s their baby’s room.

These neighbors appear curious, but don’t call police even when Stanton and his accomplice carry out golf clubs and other personal items.

Stanton:  Now they’re watching us—he knew something is up.

Stanton even stops these women and tells them exactly what he’s up to.

Stanton: “We’re just going to burglarize a house that’s all”

The women nod and smile. And believe it or not, still, no one calls 911.

Next stop: Another house, this time in a gated community near Las Vegas. To get past the automated gate, Stanton simply waits for another car to punch the security code and then follows it in.

Stanton: We decided to up the ante. We took away the construction outfit.

Stafford: You’re gonna make it even more obvious this time.

Stanton: That’s right.

Stafford: Less of a disguise.  No disguise.

Stanton: Right. 

Stanton looks for a way in, no open window or door.  But Stanton says if he simple broke a window, he’d be in, especially in a secluded area like this backyard.

And if you’re wondering about an alarm, Stanton and the police say it’s a deterrent, but not a barrier he cant get beat if he acts quickly.

But could Stanton get past the neighbors? Watch how Stanton even brags about being a burglar.

Stanton (hidden camera footage): Hey neighbors! Do you know if the Pattons are coming home soon?

Neighbor: Hi there.

Stanton: The Pattons—oh, you guys don’t live around here?

Neighbor: Oh, we live here. Just walking here.

Stanton: I’m in the middle of robbing this house for crying out loud.

Neighbor: Well let me get your name and photograph. How ya doin’?

Stanton: Doing well, doing well. No, we’re here to pick up some stuff. I’m waiting here. I wanted to know if anybody had an idea.

Neighbor: Oh, you got me.

Stanton: Alrighty. If you guys want to help on the way back. You’re more than welcome.

Neighbor: Yah right, I’ll just give you my address.

Stafford: You just said, “I’m robbing the house.”  You made a joke out of it.  You shook his hand. Of course he’s not gonna think you’re robbing the house.

Stanton: Well time out— I just threw him off the mark.  And they may have been questioning me.  But, I just erased all of that suspicion out of their mind by a couple of easy sentences.

Stafford: What should he have done?

Stanton: Look at this person in your community that’s walking out with property.  Question them, if nothing else, how long does it take to jot down the license number?

When we showed the tape to the owners of this house, they were shocked when they learned these weren’t just any neighbors.

Mrs. Patton: They’re the homeowners association, the volunteers who live in the community.

Stanton: Essentially the  people that write you up if your light bulbs aren’t working well?

Mr. Patton: We’ve been written up many times.

Former chief psychologist for the U.S. Secret Service, Marisa Randazzo says the neighbors reaction is a classic case of bystander apathy.

Stafford: We’ve upped the ante.  It’s not a car, it’s a house. The neighbors look across the street—they clearly see him there. What are they thinking, do you think? 

Marissa Randazzo, psychologist: In this situation, they’re inhibited by the fact that they think Bill is supposed to be there. They think there may be a prior relationship between Bill and the people who live in this house.

But at the next house, also in Las Vegas, could Stanton be even more obvious?  Watch what happens when he flags down a pizza delivery man.

Stafford: What do you have?

Stanton: I have a cigar, a piece of china, and their bottle of champagne.  So, I’m looking to someone, “Call the cops please.”

Stafford: And you’re just walking in the middle of this neighborhood.

Stanton: In the middle of the street, and I spot a pizza delivery man.  And I call him over.

Stanton (hidden camera footage): Are the cops around here a lot?

Pizza Delivery Man: Why do you ask?

Stanton: Cause I’m taking them down. I’m ripping them off.

Pizza delivery man: Really?

Stanton: Here you go (hands the delivery guy a bottle of liquor)

Pizza delivery man: Really?

Stanton: Yah. Go get out of here. I thought you saw—you didn’t see the cops around here, did ya?

Pizza Delivery Man: No—uh huh, Thanks man!

Bill: No get out of here, Bye!

The family that owned this house was outraged when we showed them the tape.

Mr. Pomerantz: The notion that you could just come in here and charm him with a bottle of wine or a bottle of champagne and a cigar in your mouth. That’s kinda scary. That’s real scary.

But if innocent bystanders aren’t aware enough of crime when it’s happening before their eyes, how sharp are the people who are paid to look out for your safety? A hotel is your home away from home.  But will Bill Stanton be able to talk his way into a room that isn’t his?

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