• Have good locks on all doors and windows and USE THEM!

• Ask a neighbor to watch the house while you're away. It's a good idea to leave your vacation address and telephone number with a neighbor so you can be reached in case of an emergency.

• Never leave your house key hidden outside your home, if someone is watching your home for you, GIVE them a key.

• Stop all deliveries, or arrange for a neighbor to pick up your mail, newspapers, door knob advertisements and packages.

• Arrange for someone to mow your lawn, rake leaves and maintain the yard to give the home a lived-in at home look.

• Plug in timers to turn lights, radio or television on and off at different times. This helps to disguise the fact that you are away.

• Don't announce your absence on answering machine messages or telephone company voice mail systems.

• Leave your blinds, shades, shutters and curtains in a normal position. Don't close them unless that is what you do when you are home. Burglars case (watch) neighborhoods and will notice out-of-the-ordinary appearances.

• Close and lock garage doors and windows. Ask a neighbor to occasionally park in your driveway. If you leave your car at home, park it as you normally would. Vehicles parked outside should be moved occasionally to appear that they are being used.

• Tell your local police, neighborhood watch, community patrol you plan to be away. Patrol officers may have the opportunity to periodically check your home.

• Engrave your valuables as recommended in Operation I.D (contact your local police or sheriff on how the program works). This simple step will allow your stolen property to be identified and returned to you if recovered by the authorities.

Get a product like "Rex the Dog", for the front and back doors. "Rex" uses passive radar that detects when someone approaches. When Rex senses movement, he "Barks" or use one of the other 3 sounds the unit has. Burglars do not like a home with a dog.