Install and use good deadbolt locks in your doors (about half of all burglars enter through unlocked doors and windows).

Secure sliding glass doors with locks or a rigid wooden dowel wedged in the track.

Lock double-hung windows by sliding a bolt or nail into a hole drilled at a downward angle through the top of each sash and into the frame.

Install a peephole or viewer in all entry doors so you can see who is outside without opening the door. Do not trust door chains. They can be easily broken.

Don’t open the door to anyone you don’t know. Insist service personnel verify their identity before allowing them in.

Do not hide house keys in mail boxes, planters, or under doormats.

Do not put personal identification on key rings. Leave only your ignition key with mechanics or parking attendants.

If you lose the keys to your home or move into a new home, change the locks immediately.