The perfect answer to Home Security I guess is a complete System with Monitoring by the Company who installed it. But to most of us, the financial side of it makes it out of reach and other methods need to be considered.

The ideal situation though is the old addage ‘Prevention is better than cure’ and there are many things to deter the Burglar where little or no money atall is involved. Many things can make the lurking Thief to think twice.

Outside
A shingle type Pathway or Drive makes a lot of noise.
Keep your Hedges low and fences low. The less ‘privacy’ the Burglar has the better.
Install PIR Lighting
A CCTV Camera linking System to a PC or TV aren’t too expensive nowadays
Buy a Dummy Camera and install where they only see it when they think they’re on it!
Do not leave keys in secret places. They will look everywhere and know how you think.
Do not leave any Ladders around.
Do not leave tools around which they can use to take a Door or Window off.
Keep Windows and Doors closed at all times, even during Summer (pull the curtains to cool the House)
If you have a long garden, lock the Door when you’re out there. It doesn’t take long to unplug an Electrical Item !
If you hang keys up - don’t label them.
You can buy very resonably priced Door and Window Alarms

When you’re out or away
Buy Timer switches and set them to turn lights on and off. A Radio turned on is a good deterrant
Get a neighbour to pick your post and free Newspapers off the floor and hide it away til you return
See if a neighbour can park their second Car in your Drive to make it look as if you’re in
Never leave notes for a Delivery saying ‘if out, leave in Shed’ etc
Tell as few people as possible you’re going away ‘Walls have ears’, especially in Public places.

Household Waste
Don’t leave Cardboard Boxes your new goods came in after you’ve opened them
Don’t leave the old TV outside ready to take to the Tip (Loads of Wrapping Paper tells them there’s been a Birthday)
Shred all Statements and anything which has confidential details on before you throw them away

The above are just a few. The main thing is to make the opportunist Thief think twice before he or she enters your Property. Sure there will be some who will ‘case a joint’ and unless you have top notch security, they will get in, so watch out for Lurkers - if they’re in a Car or on a Motorbike, write the number down just in case.

When you next replace your TV, DVD Player, time how long you can unplug it and take it out the House - it’s not long and if it’s a Laptop or Digital Radio, it’s even quicker.

Nothing in life is 100%, so finally, make sure you have a good Household Items Insurance - just in case.