If basement windows are located at the rear of the house, install additional lighting to the area. Ladders, pieces of wood, bricks, lattices, pipes, and TV antennas are tools to burglars. Store all such items inside a locked garage. If a TV antenna is no longer used, remove it. Antennas are frequently used as ladders by burglars, allowing them to gain entry to your home.
Dogs are a burglars worst nightmare.
The dog need not be vicious or even protective. Dogs naturally bark and create enough of a disturbance to drive burglars away from your living space. If you don't have a dog, pretend. Many electronic devices that simulate a dog bark are also available. Using the same mechanism as a motion detection spotlight, these devices emit a realistic dog bark when tripped or triggered.