An overstuffed mailbox is a tell-tale sign for burglars that you're not home. Arrange for a friend or neighbor to pick up your mail and newspapers while you're away to prevent it from building up.
The bad guys look for homes that appear to be unsecured. Keep your home from looking like an easy mark by placing decoy security decals or signs somewhere visible. Even if you don't have a security system, thieves will be more likely to avoid making your home a target.
Installing some smart light-bulbs in street-facing lamps and setting them to a random schedule or controlling them from your phone will give your home the appearance of someone always being home. Smart bulbs are affordable and easy to install, too!
Overgrown hedges and shrubs in your yard are easier to hide in and send a message to potential thieves that you're not often around. Cut down your hedges and trim branches to make it more difficult for a bad guy to hide.
Bright, motion sensing exterior lights make it much harder for burglars to use the cover of night to break into your home. Make sure your exterior bulbs are working and replace them when they burn out!
The easiest way for a crook to break into your home is through an unlocked door. Make sure everyone in your household knows to lock all doors and make a habit of checking them before you leave. Consider installing smart locks that automatically lock behind you, or locks that you can control with your phone.
You can now install home security cameras yourself relatively cheaply that will allow you to monitor the activity both inside and outside of your home remotely. Often, just the sight of an exterior camera will be enough to deter burglars from approaching your home.
Although it can be tempting to check-in at a vacation spot or share photos of the beach while you're away, this can often be a sign for ne'er-do-wells that your home is vacant and a potential target. Consider waiting until you're home again to share the details of your trip.
These handy devices prevent windows from being opened more than six inches. This makes it virtually impossible for a criminal to crawl inside.
Establish a friendly relationship with your neighbors and agree to keep an eye on each others' homes when going out of town. This is one of the best ways to prevent anything from going awry and will afford you all peace of mind.