1. Don’t make the outside of your home look expensive (i.e., if you place a beautiful sculpture or fountain outside your home you are basically saying, We’ve got money for luxuries.)

2. Put bars on windows at the first floor that are most vulnerable to intrusion. If you find the ideas of bars on windows unsightly remember they do make more decorative types. Another way to deter window break-ins is to plant large shrubs underneath. You can find thorny types. In certain regions you can even plant cacti. Alternatively, on the inside of your home you can place things like large TVs, bookshelves or other objects right across windows as barriers.

3. Be sure your front door does not look vulnerable (e.g., if you have glass panes in your door or if there is a small window trim this looks potentially easier to break in. Get a solid looking door.)

4. Placing a "Beware of the dog" sign in front of your home only deters anyone if you actually have a large dog. If someone has cased your home they will know if you actually have a dog or not. Hearing a real dog bark can be a deterrent. Hence, you say you have 2 dogs already, and that’s good. Put the dogs in your yard so they can be seen.

5. Neighborhood watch signs. These tell criminals that residents are vigilant to strangers in the area. You could also actually form a neighborhood watch organization and even have people take shifts "patrolling" the neighborhood. And no, the person does not need to be armed with a gun to do this! Having a cell phone would be a good idea if calling police is necessary.

6. Security ALARM signs in front of your home can be a deterrent. I’m not talking about a sign that says, "Warning: alarm system in place." I’m talking about a sign that says the name of an alarm company, which is frequently placed as advertising in front of homes that actually have the alarm system installed. A criminal doesn’t know if you are bluffing or not (as is the case with security cams that are not actually cams), so instead of taking a chance might just move on to some other house.

7. Outside lights do deter criminals, but they have to be the type that illuminate the building. These may also add unwanted light inside your house when you’re trying to sleep. However, you could do just a portion of your home, such as the front and back door area, which is left on every single night without exception.

8. Start closing your gate. Unless it’s the type that can be easily scaled that’s one less route of entry onto your property for a criminal to rely on. Also it might be expensive but consider fencing or walling in your whole property.

9. When someone is routinely seen to be home all the time this is a sign that the house isn’t vulnerable. Can someone be home most of the time?

DON’T leave your porch lights on.

Most people leave their porch lights on when they leave. Crooks know this. When scoping out a house they study the areas around the house. When you leave the lights on it shows the shadows. So, if by chance you are home when they decide to break in and the light is off. As soon as you hear them you’ll what? Turn the light on! Since they know the shadows, they know exactly where to hide.

Also, when you have your car tuned up DON’T hand over all your keys! You give a stranger your address and information along with your house keys. They always have key machines in their shops. If you look, dress or have a fancy car, they will think you have money. So, what’s stopping them from making an extra key and breaking in?