Tip #11:
Hide your valuables from plain view. I am sure we all have seen houses that resemble glass aquariums. One neighbor of mine has no curtains, and everything visible from the street! Name it, there is everything to be seen in her house: the fully stocked liquor cabinet, the stereo, home entertainment unit, everything. Get yourself a good set of thick curtains,and avoid using those sheer see-through curtains to prevent advertising your assets to would-be hoods!
Tip #12:
Consider investing in protective window film or window bars if you live in a high risk area. The common protective film for windows is relatively undetectable and strong enough to withstand impact from a baseball bat. Retailers of window bars have released a lot of low-key looking bars that blend in quite well into the look of your home.
Tip #13:
Do not leave mail in the mailbox for any length of time, or leave flyers or advertising paraphernalia in the door. This is a idea giveaway to crooks that you are not home.
Tip #14:
Use timers for lights inside your home, if you go away regularly from your home at night. Having different sets of lights turning on and off every few minutes can obfuscate the fact there is nobody home at the time. Having timers also turning other appliances, like radios and televisions off and on is useful too!
Tip #15:
For the same reasons that one shouldn’t leave mail and adverts in the door or mailbox, one also should take care not to leave any outside lights burning all night into the day. If you use outside lights, either use a motion sensitive switch or put them on a timer. Set these sorts of exterior lights that are on timers to cast light as far as possible, perhaps even 25 yards. Consider putting lights that light the backyard on a switch too, that can be accessed from inside the bedroom.
