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    Make Sure Your Home is Safe and Secure During Holiday Travels

    By | At Home – Fri, Dec 9, 2011 11:41 AM EST

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    While you'd like to think it could never happen to you, a home is broken into every 14 seconds, according to the FBI. Add expensive stocking-stuffers and spotty holiday travel to this mix, and your home's stock just went up. Luckily, you don't have to be a security mastermind to protect your property during the hectic holiday season. There are plenty of simple, affordable steps you can take. --Natalie Gingerich Mackenzie, thisoldhouse.com

    See ALL of our burglar-busting tips at thisoldhouse.com

    1. Advertise Your Alarm
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    Criminals talk big, but when push comes to shove, they won't go near a house that has an alarm, says Dr. Paul Cromwell, a criminology professor at the University of South Florida Polytechnic. You don't even need an active system, just a sign in your yard or a decal in a window-or better, both.

    MORE: Burglar-Proof Your Entry

    2. Showcase Fido
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    Most burglars don't want to mess with a dog, whether it's a toy poodle or a 90-pound German shepherd. A threatening BEWARE OF DOG sign can do the trick, as can a paw-print doormat.

    MORE: A Stunning Craftsman-Style Doghouse


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    3. Always Lock Up
    This may seem obvious, but 28 percent of burglars don't use force to get into a home-they walk in the door or climb through a window.

    MORE: Burglar-Proof Your Entry

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    4. Beef Up Your Doors
    Department of Justice statistics show that 73 percent of forcible entries involve damage to the door. To ensure it won't budge without your key, install a deadbolt that's at least 1 inch long. Add a solid-brass strike plate secured with 3-inch screws that go all the way into the studs.     See All About Entry Sets to find which locks best suit your homeowner needs.


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    5. Fortify Windows
    Burglars see an open window as a welcome sign, but in the summer it may be a necessary evil. A wood dowel inserted in the slider track can allow airflow while preventing the window from opening enough for a person to fit through. Protect older glass with laminate film that makes it harder to break. See Window Do's & Don'ts for more.

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