UNDERSTANDING DECISIONS TO BURGLARIZE FROM THE OFFENDER'S PERSPECTIV
Dec. 2012 study by The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology

A few tips:

• Floodlights with motion detectors can be effective in deterring people from wandering around your home.  They are relatively inexpensive and can be installed easily.
• If you have an alarm system, arm it, even if you are going to be gone for a short period of time.  You should have sensors on doors, windows, motion detectors and or glass breakage sensors.    
• Nothing provokes a robber more than the sight of a new TV, iPod or video game box placed on the curb. Trash your empty boxes properly so you don’t leave yourself vulnerable to a home invasion. When a thief sees that your home is a profitable hit, they are more likely to strike
• Back up all of your computers regularly.  It is devastating to lose years of family pictures or other valuable information because a thief took your computer.  Keep a file with all serial numbers of your electronics which can help police recover them.
• Neighborhood Watch: Watch out for your neighbor’s property and call police if you see anything suspicious. A good rule of thumb is to call if you wonder whether or not you should call.  When in doubt make the call.
• Door-to-Door Peddlers: All door-to-door sales persons must be licensed to do so. Be aware. A common scam involves people claiming to be out of gas or that their vehicle is disabled.  They ask for a loan or money to help them out. Do not give money to anyone who comes to your door that you do not know.
• Any time an individual approaches you and states that they have material left over from another job, whether it is chemicals, asphalt or whatever, be suspicious.