• Get to know your neighbors. Alert neighbors are a major help for home security.
• Do not leave a house key under a mat, in the mailbox or in any other obvious hiding area near the door.
• Post emergency numbers by the phone.
• Keep doors locked at all times.
• Know who has keys to your house.
• Change the locks when moving into a new home.
• Change the locks when personnel with keys leave.
• Motion detector lighting is a good deterrent in the yard.
• Plant thick, prickly shrubs close to basement and ground windows to deter prowlers.
• Never let anyone lure you out of your home.
• Your bedroom door should have a lock. You should also have a telephone in your bedroom.
• Make sure your house number is visible day and night-on all streets or alleys.
• Secure roof openings and exhaust systems.
• Bolt window air-conditioning units to wall to prevent them from being easily removed from the outside.
• Make sure all outside doors to your house have keyed knob sets and deadbolt locks.
• Always lock the doors when you leave the house and when you return.
• Use security bars for added protection on sliding patio doors and entry doors.
• Choose padlocks that are highly resistant to weather and the elements if they are going to be used outside.
• Always lock gate, garage, shed, and storage doors.
• If you are unsure of home security products, consult a locksmith or home security specialist.
• Don't leave valuables where they can be seen from the windows.
• Don't keep large amounts of cash or valuable fine jewelry around the house. Use a safety deposit box or a safe.
• Keep blinds or drapes closed at night.
• Consider installing a security/alarm system in your home.

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com