Michael Petruccelli asks; What are some inexpensive, effective ways to defend your home against burglaries & invasions. (12)

Michael Petruccelli says;  Other ways to fake it while you're gone:

• Hold the mail delivery. Do this by visiting the post office to fill out a form or  go online to the USPS.com Web site.
• Set a few lights and appliances to switch on and off. Digital timers (around $9 to $15) let you set a schedule. You plug the timer into a wall receptacle and plug the radio, TV or lamp into the timer.
• Leave a vehicle in your carport or in front of the house if possible. Ask a neighbor or friend to help you out by parking there.
• Get friends to pick up newspapers, cut the grass, water plants, feed pets and open and close curtains, varying their routine to add a note of unpredictability if possible.

Michael Petruccelli asks; What are some inexpensive, effective ways to defend your home against burglaries & invasions. (11)

Michael Petruccelli says; Cultivate the lived-in look. When you’re gone, don’t let stuff like newspapers, real-estate cards and pizza fliers accumulate in front of your door. “Make it look lived-in, even if you’re just gone for the weekend,” McGoey says. Before you leave, consider how your home will appear on the outside and avoid these classic mistakes that are like waving a red flag to invite burglars:

• Leaving the porch light on 24 hours a day.
• Leaving the trash out on Friday for pickup on Monday.

Michael Petruccelli asks; What are some inexpensive, effective ways to defend your home against burglaries & invasions. (10)

Michael Petruccelli says; Upgrade your house number. You want your home’s street number easily seen in the dark from across the street so police and firefighters can find you pronto in an emergency. Many fire departments or city or county governments sell inexpensive reflective street numbers. Whatever type you use, place it where it can be easily seen. Keep plants around the number well-trimmed.  

Michael Petruccelli asks; What are some inexpensive, effective ways to defend your home against burglaries & invasions. (9)

Michael Petruccelli says; . Get a dog (or pretend to). A dog won’t make your home impregnable, but it can make it look less approachable. You don’t want a pooch? That’s OK. Post a “beware of dog” sign anyway. Mike, who doesn’t have a dog, has a sign and makes a point of asking service people to wait before entering his property so he can “put the dog in the house.”  “The sign is cheap,” he says. “It makes people think twice.”

Michael Petruccelli asks; What are some inexpensive, effective ways to defend your home against burglaries & invasions. (8)

Michael Petruccelli says; Make friends with the folks on every side of your place. Suggest keeping an eye on each other’s homes every day and trading favors — feeding the cat or watering plants — when you leave town.

Michael Petruccelli asks; What are some inexpensive, effective ways to defend your home against burglaries & invasions. (7)

Michael Petruccelli says; Join a Neighborhood Watch program. Or start one. Ask your police department for details. These programs build cohesive neighborhoods, and that helps reduce crime and reinforce property values.