Use programmable timers to turn on lights or the television when you are not home. This gives your home the “lived in” look when you are away.

Install high-quality name brand deadbolt locks on all exterior doors of your home. Ensure all door hinges are on the interior of the door.

Every three months, lock yourself out of your house. Examine ways that you could get back in and realize that if you can – so can someone else.

Install outdoor motion sensor lights at or near outside entrances to your home at heights that are unreachable from ground level.

When you are on vacation, have the post office stop delivery of your mail until you get home – you will also want to cancel newspaper deliveries.

Never leave tools or ladders lying around the outside of your residence – burglars can use these to gain access to your home.

When you buy that new television or laptop computer, hide or destroy the box so that others do not know what is inside your home.

Never hide spare house keys under the doormat at the front door or in your mailbox. Instead, leave a spare key with a trusted neighbor.

Store valuable documents such as insurance policies and wills at an off-site location such as a bank safety deposit box.

Have a monitored security system professionally installed – it is a proven deterrent. Make sure all members of your family are comfortable using it.