“Duncan says the best way to protect your home is with a monitored alarm system.
“That way you have a second set of eyes looking at your house constantly, whether you’re home or away.”
But if you can’t afford a system like that, Duncan recommends focusing on the basics.
“First thing, make sure your doors and windows are locked.”
When you’re away, invest in a timer to make it look like your home. “You want to have two or three in your living room so that the TV comes on and two lights come one, but 8, 9 O’Clock they go off and one goes on in your bathroom for 10 to 15 minutes.”
There are also very affordable alarms that can make a thief want to avoid your house.
A “charlie bar” like this one is easy to install, visible from the outside and makes opening a sliding glass door nearly impossible without breaking the glass.”