1. Get a Security System
This is the easiest and most obvious way! Whether you get your own security system and monitor it yourself or decide to go with a company that’s up to you. Make sure to announce you have a security system as well with signs or decals from your security company. You could even announce with signs and decals that you have a security system even if you don’t have one. Obviously, you still risk the dangers of not having a security system.
2. Examine your front door for potential weaknesses
The front door is typically the main entrance and exit to your house, you should have a solid wood or steel door, not a lightweight hollow core door. To prevent your front door from getting kicked in make sure you have a deadbolt strike plate. You could even go as far as to get a doorway reinforcement kit.
3. Prepare for Vacations
Vacation is the time you want to be relaxing and having fun. Not worrying about if your house is safe while you’re gone. Depending on the length of time you will be gone you may want to have a neighbor collect your mail and newspapers. Have someone cut your grass and even take out your trash on trash day.
4. Use Timers and TV’s
Typically break-ins occur during the daytime when people are at work and school. Burglars also target homes that are dark at night. Having and setting timers to turn on tv’s, radios, lights, etc can help deter potential burglars. Seeing those things on can make them believe that someone is home rather than it being an empty house.
5. Lots of Lights
Make sure the outside of the home is lit well, putting motion-sensing lights by entrances and doorways is a simple way to do that. You could also get a system that allows you to turn lights on and off remotely via your cellphone. Also, from the previous point using timers is a great way to have lights turn on without being there. Just make sure they are near your windows but curtains/blinds are closed so intruders can’t see into your house.