To avoid becoming the next victim of a burglary or related crime, there are a wide range of measures a homeowner can take to protect themselves and their property.
Basic measures such as closing windows, locking doors or letting neighbours know when you are going to be away don't cost anything and should come as second nature.
House alarm systems are the next step up the security ladder but will obviously be more expensive.
Nevertheless, cost should not be the prime concern, especially when it comes to the safety of your loved ones.
Put yourself in the place of a potential thief and look at your home security through their eyes - you may well surprise yourself.
Walk around the outside of your home and try to spot weaknesses, potential points of entry and areas where a burglar could gain undetected access.
Are there plants or bushes that are obscuring certain areas? Look for any unprotected windows that are close to the ground as they make for easy entry points.
The same review carried out when it is dark is the next step.
Think about the lights and shadows around your home.
Consider any pathways that a stranger can walk down unheard and unseen.
Leaving curtains and shutters open when it is dark outside make for easy viewing of the inside of downstairs rooms.
When it comes to home security, even the most basic measures can make a big difference.
Installation of a wooden or metal security bar across a sliding window can prevent it being opened from the outside.
Good bolt locks will not always keep out the professional burglar, but they will at least slow down the opportunist thief.
Make mutual arrangements with the nearby neighbours to watch their property, while they watch yours.
Burglars will mostly target homes that they consider easy to get into.
A house where nobody is home makes an easy target.
Timer switches that control table or desk lamps can easily be installed with the added advantage of fooling them into thinking there is somebody in the house.
Lights that are left on permanently, especially during daylight hours, will make it obvious that the house is unoccupied.
Having radios, televisions and lights that switch on and off in a random manner will give the indication that the house is occupied.
Timers are very inexpensive with around $100 dollars buying you a dozen or more.
Many home security systems cost as little as a dollar a day.
Taking into account how much you could stand to lose, that is a small price to pay for 'insurance'.
As well as that, having one will often also lower your home insurance premiums.
These systems can often be installed as a do it yourself project without requiring specialized assistance.
Several have low-cost battery backups so they still function during a natural or burglar-induced power outage.
Many house alarm systems also include a facility to alert you if a door or window is opened.
However, a burglar armed with nothing more than a glasscutter, could quite easily bypass that facility.
However, a system that includes either a vibration detector or cut sensor will overcome that problem.
Motion detectors are another worthwhile upgrade to consider.
At the end of the day, no system is foolproof.
Nevertheless, taking action and implementing some simple, inexpensive solutions can better your odds dramatically.
Basic measures such as closing windows, locking doors or letting neighbours know when you are going to be away don't cost anything and should come as second nature.
House alarm systems are the next step up the security ladder but will obviously be more expensive.
Nevertheless, cost should not be the prime concern, especially when it comes to the safety of your loved ones.
Put yourself in the place of a potential thief and look at your home security through their eyes - you may well surprise yourself.
Walk around the outside of your home and try to spot weaknesses, potential points of entry and areas where a burglar could gain undetected access.
Are there plants or bushes that are obscuring certain areas? Look for any unprotected windows that are close to the ground as they make for easy entry points.
The same review carried out when it is dark is the next step.
Think about the lights and shadows around your home.
Consider any pathways that a stranger can walk down unheard and unseen.
Leaving curtains and shutters open when it is dark outside make for easy viewing of the inside of downstairs rooms.
When it comes to home security, even the most basic measures can make a big difference.
Installation of a wooden or metal security bar across a sliding window can prevent it being opened from the outside.
Good bolt locks will not always keep out the professional burglar, but they will at least slow down the opportunist thief.
Make mutual arrangements with the nearby neighbours to watch their property, while they watch yours.
Burglars will mostly target homes that they consider easy to get into.
A house where nobody is home makes an easy target.
Timer switches that control table or desk lamps can easily be installed with the added advantage of fooling them into thinking there is somebody in the house.
Lights that are left on permanently, especially during daylight hours, will make it obvious that the house is unoccupied.
Having radios, televisions and lights that switch on and off in a random manner will give the indication that the house is occupied.
Timers are very inexpensive with around $100 dollars buying you a dozen or more.
Many home security systems cost as little as a dollar a day.
Taking into account how much you could stand to lose, that is a small price to pay for 'insurance'.
As well as that, having one will often also lower your home insurance premiums.
These systems can often be installed as a do it yourself project without requiring specialized assistance.
Several have low-cost battery backups so they still function during a natural or burglar-induced power outage.
Many house alarm systems also include a facility to alert you if a door or window is opened.
However, a burglar armed with nothing more than a glasscutter, could quite easily bypass that facility.
However, a system that includes either a vibration detector or cut sensor will overcome that problem.
Motion detectors are another worthwhile upgrade to consider.
At the end of the day, no system is foolproof.
Nevertheless, taking action and implementing some simple, inexpensive solutions can better your odds dramatically.
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