Vancouver police officer John Braithwaite and his partner Ray Gardiner are experts when it comes to how burglars think.
They say the first thing burglars do is take a good look at the outside of your home or apartment
"Houses that are left unkept are definately an attraction," said Braithwaite.
So if you are away, have someone cut your lawn, pick up your mail , community newspapers and flyers, have a neighbour park their car on your driveway.
Call forward your phone to your cell, and unplug your garage door opener. Don't leave ladders outside where they allow easy access to upstairs windows.
And consider locking your barbecue up in the garage. Good locks are always good investment.
"You get what you pay for and with locks you certainly want to spend the extra bit of money," said Braithwaite.
Buy a grade two, or better yet a grade one lock, the highest grade, and have at least a two inch deadbolt.
But even the best lock can be defeated by a weak door or frame.
That's why it is a good idea to install a metal plate called a door reinforcer. It doubles the strength of the door.
Inside the house, set up a few timers for lights while you're away, or use an inexpensive photo cell, or install a memory switch that memorizes when you turn lights on and off for three days, and duplicates the pattern when you are away.
An alarm system sign may seem like an eyesore, but it's something that burglars don't like to see.
" If they think it's a good system and a chance of them getting caught they'll move on,'' said Braithwaite.
Condos can be made more secure too. Main doors should have an overlapping steel plate that makes it impossible to jimmy the door open.
Sliding doors can be lifted by burglars with a screwdriver. But install simple anti lift plates and they can't get in any more.
While everyone likes beautiful grounds, Const. Ray Gardiner says its easy it is for a burglar to slip behind a hedge that has become overgrown. So some pruning would help too.
Keep an eye out for your neighbours because an alert friendly neighbourhood is a real deterent to criminals.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
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