Join a neighborhood safety watch group . Don't put your name on your mailbox . You don't want a burglar to know your last name, because he or she might then call your home and ask for you by name to see if you are there. If you place a newspaper ad to sell a valuable item, don't include your street address. Try to make your home look as if you are still there while you're gone .
Burglars are less likely to try to break into a home that looks occupied.
Leave something outside, like a shovel, a child's toy or a water hose. Leave your draperies and blinds open. Put inside and outside lights, radios and televisions on timers set according to your normal schedule. Call forward your telephone to another number . Don't change the message on your answering machine to indicate that you are away.