Plant defensive shrubbery around your home, especially beneath windows. Bushes that feature thorns or stiff, spiky leaves are not good hiding places for criminals. When moving into a house or apartment, always change or re-key the locks or have the tumblers reset. Otherwise, the previous resident - and anyone they supplied keys to has unrestricted access to your home. Never hide an extra key under a mat, in a flower pot, or in any other easily accessible place.
Criminals know all the hiding places.
Lock your doors when working in your yard, attic, laundry room, or any place away from your home's entry areas. While you are busy elsewhere, burglars could easily enter your home unnoticed. Phone Security Do not give information to strangerson the telephone. Thieves often target homes using information obtained from telephone surveys . If you use an answering machine, do not announce your name and number as part of the message.