Burglary

Posting security company signs

When you post a sign that identifies your security company, you give the burglar the information he or she needs to disable the system; all the burglar has to do is buy a diagram of how that particu­lar system is wired. It is better to buy a generic sign from a home-supply store that simply says, "This house is protected by a security system." As long as the sign does not provide specific information, it may be a deterrent.

Having newspaper and mail delivery stopped when you go away

You may trust your mail and newspaper carriers, but you do not know who else is privy to the information, so keep your plans quiet. Have a neighbor or close friend pick up your paper or mail. Ask them to drop by at dif­ferent times of the day. The more activity burglars see, the less likely they are to target your house.

Getting a big dog

Big dogs may look scary, but bur­glars know better. Most big breeds, unless they are trained as guard dogs, are not barkers. What you want to get are "yappers," small dogs that make a lot of noise. Breeds such as Chi­huahuas are better deterrents than most large dogs.