How to burglar-proof your home

Nearly five million homes are burglarized every year, often while homeowners are away on vacation, according to the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association. Taking sensible steps to burglar-proof your house makes it less of a target all year round, and adds to a worry-free getaway.

The National Crime Prevention Council suggests the following for your pre-vacation checklist:

•Make your home look lived in while you’re away. The key is to make it appear that people are coming and going, says Jim Wright, a director at the council. But leaving lights on all day is an indication that no one is home. Instead, put a porch light and an inside light or two on timers. If you set them to turn on and off with different patterns, it will help create an impression that someone is home. Also, have someone pull your trash can to the curb on garbage day and park in your driveway occasionally.

•Have a friend or neighbor check your house. Better still, have them house sit. Also, alert your neighborhood crime group or the local police department of your departure and ask them to give your home extra attention while you’re away.

•Stop newspapers and mail or arrange to have them collected. If a friend or neighbor is doing this for you, be sure to have them also retrieve circulars that may pile up. The post office will hold mail for up to 30 days; see www.usps.com for more information.

•Secure all window and door locks and make sure they work. Sounds obvious, but Wright says that people often overlook this step while caught up in pre-vacation preparations. “Six of every 10 completed burglaries take place through unlocked doors or windows,” he says. And don’t forget about the garage.

•Trim bushes. Overgrown shrubs provide hiding spots for potential intruders and can interfere with the line of sight for police or anyone else checking your house.

•Invest in electronic security. House alarms are always a good investment. Even security signs and stickers are effective deterrents.