Burglars want to get the most loot in the shortest time with the least risk. To improve your odds, use motion detectors to activate outdoor lighting and increase outdoor lighting. Make sure entrances and windows are visible from a distance. Eliminate or trim shrubbery and trees that can provide cover for thieves. When going out of town, make arrangements for lawn care, get someone to retrieve the mail and newspapers, and use timers to mimic the lighting pattern of an occupied home.

Once a burglar decides to target a home, he attempts to gain entry as inconspicuously as possible. Good window and door locks (such as deadbolts) can stop or at least slow down the intruder. Most will give up and try somewhere else if they meet too many obstacles.

If the intruder is persistent, anything from a barking dog to a sophisticated alarm system can also help. Alarm systems vary enormously in their cost and sophistication. If your home has many valuables or is in a neighborhood subject to many thefts, it makes sense to go with a more sophisticated system.

All systems can be compromised or bypassed, but high-end systems will stump all but the most masterful of thieves. Most alarm systems include a system to initiate an alarm manually if you suspect an intruder. This can be important for your personal safety. Ideally, any unauthorized entry should trigger an alarm, encouraging the intruder to flee.

Security check: Call your local police department to see if it offers free security checks of your home. Adding extra security features should be driven by the "ambient" risks (e.g., location of neighborhood, the home's attractiveness to thieves) and your own psychological well-being. A truly determined criminal will be hard to stop, but every home protection service or feature you install will add to your peace of mind.

Security doors: Security doors won't be kicked in as easily as regular doors and can't be seen through. Motion detectors are a simple way to detect intruders, but sound, lasers and infrared (heat-tripped) detectors work even more effectively. A good rule of thumb is to choose a system that makes you comfortable.

Keypad: Many people choose to place a keypad for their security system at the front or back door of their home. It's a handy place, but thieves know that as well, so you might want to have a second keypad installed in your bedroom or office or use a dual system that needs two different disabling mechanisms.

Security monitoring is the remote protection of a home or business using the existing telephone lines to alert the monitoring company and the local police or fire department that an alarm in the home or business has been tripped. Most monitoring is done by land phone lines, but it is also possible to get cellular phone back-up in case the land lines are cut.

-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com