Following our first newsletter on the Mindset of a Modern Criminal, this edition explores what criminals targeting high-net-worth individuals look for, with insights from Harrier Global, a trusted Markham partner specialising in personal security advice and education.
Contrary to popular belief, sophisticated criminals are not always driven by celebrity or notoriety. While high-profile individuals — such as professional footballers, musicians or public figures — may present attractive opportunities due to visibility and predictable schedules, they are not the only targets.
Equally appealing are individuals who have accumulated wealth through business, inheritance or investment, particularly where that wealth is less publicly visible. For experienced criminals, the defining factor is not how the money was made, but whether the opportunity presents a favourable balance of reward versus risk.
Crucially, these offenders are always looking for new opportunities. Familiarity breeds caution; novelty creates advantage.
A Methodical, Not Impulsive, Approach
Once a potential target is identified, the process becomes analytical rather than emotional. Sophisticated criminals seek confidence before action. They want to understand the individual, the environment, and the likely response to intrusion.
Online research plays a central role. Publicly available information is used to build a picture of routines, habits and patterns of life. If robbery is the objective, understanding when a target is likely to be at home is essential. If burglary is the aim, knowing when a property is unoccupied becomes the priority.
Properties themselves are examined remotely. Images, layouts and access points are assessed using whatever material can be found online, including mapping tools and historic imagery. The goal is simple: to reduce uncertainty and eliminate surprises.
Only when sufficient confidence exists does the process move forward.
Reconnaissance: Testing the Assumptions
The next stage is targeted, efficient reconnaissance. This is not casual observation, but a deliberate effort to confirm that assumptions remain valid. Has anything changed?
Has security been upgraded? Are routines consistent? Has the environment evolved in a way that alters the risk?
For the criminal, this stage is about validation. For the homeowner, it represents the first, and often best, opportunity to influence the outcome
The First Conversation With the Criminal
Reconnaissance is the moment when a property communicates its security posture. Before any technical defences are tested, the criminal is assessing intent.
What does this property tell me about how seriously the occupier takes their security? Is there evidence of boundaries? Control? Oversight? Consequence?
At this stage, the objective is not to defeat the criminal, but to shape their decision-making. To introduce doubt. To increase perceived effort and risk. To make the opportunity feel less attractive than it did at a distance.
This is, in effect, the first and most important conversation with the adversary – one that says: this will not be easy, and you may not get away with it.
Why This Matters
Sophisticated criminals succeed not because they are reckless, but because they are selective. They are patient, adaptable and rational. They choose targets where resistance appears misaligned with the value on offer.
Understanding how this selection process works is essential. Without it, defensive decisions are made blindly, and opportunities to influence behaviour are missed.
As with all effective protection, the starting point is not the solution, but the threat.
Until the mindset and methodology of the adversary are understood, meaningful risk reduction remains out of reach.