Now that you've settled into your dream home, isn't it time to start thinking about the security of your home? For many homeowners, security is an afterthought but this year one out of every six homes will be burglarized and burglars only need about sixty seconds to break into a home, that's according to crime reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In fact, every 15.4 seconds a home is targeted.

By definition, a burglary is a non-confrontational property crime that occurs when no one is in the home. But anyone who has ever dealt with type of crime knows that it can leave a family feeling vulnerable and violated.

The statistics are staggering, but there are ways to prevent such crime from happening to you and your family. Remember that most homes are targeted, so be sure that you make your home less appealing to burglars by following these tips.

1. Keep all doors and windows locked.

   It's important to use a high quality deadbolt locks on your doors and to use an additional blocking device on sliding glass doors. Windows are often much less attended to than doors, so check them throughout your home routinely.

2. Install drapes or blinds on all lower level windows and doors, including the garage. Most burglaries actually occur during the middle of the day, so keeping your possessions and cars hidden from intruders is important.

3. Install flood lights or censor lights on the exterior of the home and keep lights on inside the home as well. Burglars are far less likely to enter a well-lit residence.

4. Keep a well-manicured lawn. This can emphasize that you pay close attention to your home, whereas an overgrown lawn can suggest vacancy to a possible burglar.

5. When traveling, make sure you have someone checking on the house collecting your mail and newspapers; a pile of papers on the driveway is a tell-tale sign that your family is away.

6. Install an alarm system. Make sure all household members are trained properly in working the alarm and use it daily; a top-notch security system is useless if it isn't used or is used improperly. Also, post stickers on the exterior of the home indicating your alarm service and that will often scare off possible intruders.

Of course no method is 100% effective against burglaries, but by following these simple suggestions you can significantly reduce your chances of being targeted.

Published: September 30, 2008

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Tara Darby is a head anchor for Realty Times. She began her career in television soon after her reign as Miss Alabama USA 2004. She also landed in the Top Ten lineup at The Miss USA Pageant and participated in a special Miss USA Fear Factor on NBC. Obviously fear was not a factor for her since she won the competition! Later, she appeared as a special guest on Larry King Live to share her experiences. After that the media opportunities grew and so did her love of the camera, and thus her career began. Since then she has hosted several shows including two national series, and a new home builder show.