When you move into a new house or apartment, rekey the locks. A lock on a flimsy door is about as effective as locking your car door but leaving the window down. All outside doors should be metal or solid wood. If your doors don t fit tightly in their frames, install weather stripping around them. Install peephole or wide-angle viewer in all entry doors so you can see who is outside without opening the door.
Door chains break easily and don t keep out intruders.
Thieves hate bright lights. Install outside lights and keep them on at night. Keep your yard clean. Cut back tree limbs that a thief could use to climb to an upper-level window. If you travel, create the illusion that you re at home by getting some timers that will turn on and off in different areas of your house throughout the evening.