According to FBI statistics, a house, apartment or condominium is burglarized once every 15 seconds. Fortunately, burglary is probably the most preventable of crimes. By taking a few simple precautions, you can dramatically reduce the risks. Of course, every home and every situation is different, and there are no guarantees.

The first step is to determine what kind of threat you are trying to protect against. For example, defending against personal threats, such as assault, requires different measures than defending against burglary.

Most home burglars do not give great amounts of thought to planning the job and assessing the benefits vs. dangers, but understanding how they choose a target can go a long way in reducing your chances of being a victim.

Most burglars look for:

1. •Something worth stealing
   

2. •Easy access combined with low visibility
   

3. •A home that is unoccupied
   

Be a good neighbor

1. •Organize a neighborhood get together so neighbors can get to know one another.
   

2. •Organize or participate in a Neighborhood Watch program.
   

3. •Arrange for a local police officer to complete an security survey, or educate your neighborhood about specific safety concerns.
   

4. •Call the police immediately if you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood.
   

More information about this topic can be found at www.usaonwatch.org