In these tough economic times unfortunately many have turned to crime to get by...

Fortunately, we have some suggestions on how you can minimize your risk.

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Here's Some Tips on How to Better Your Odds

1. Many of you have carpet cleaners and other strangers in to help spruce or clean your homes. They have a chance to look over the layout of your home, notice entrances and if you have an alarm system. They can also take valuables with easy access. Keep valuable small items or cash in a secure place or a safe if possible.

2. You or you children may be hosting parties attended by people you only casually know.

3. Traveling overnight and leaving your home vacant. Be inconspicuous when loading suitcases in vehicles etc. Use a timer for interior lighting to give the appearance someone is home.

4. New, alluring presents or electronics you may have acquired over the holidays.. Schools will be on breaks, leaving teens with lots of free time.

5. Winter nights are the longest of the year.

6. The UPS and FedEx people may be delivering boxes to your door. There are thieves that follow these delivery trucks around waiting for them to leave items at an empty home.

7. You may be hosting overnight guests unfamiliar with your security system and do not set it when they leave. You can now activate most systems or verify that they are set with a smart phone.

Here are some facts: "Contrary to popular belief, most burglaries occur during the day. The most common time is the afternoon between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m." The perpetrator? It is more likely to be a teenager than a hardened criminal, and frequently one who lives within walking distance.

Frequently, the burglar is someone who has been in your home before. Those people are familiar with your home. They've been in it as a house keeper, someone delivering furniture, someone cleaning carpet, someone painting... anyone that gets a peek inside your home -- for two reasons; they see you have good stuff they want, and feel more comfortable now, because they know their way around.

So what steps do we recommend to discourage potential burglars? First, consider your house from the burglar's point of view. Do you open your drapes in the evening to show off the brightly lit tree surrounded by a bounty of gifts? Do you display your gun collection (a burglar magnet), or high-end electronics or let it be known that you keep large amounts of cash and/or expensive jewelry in the house? Anything you can do to reduce temptation would be helpful.

If you expect deliveries, have someone to meet the delivery person. To discourage any that might be casing houses for a later, surreptitious visit, you could even game them a little by telling them you have to lock the dog up before you could answer the door. Even if you don't have a dog.

After dark, take a walk down your street and compare the security your house to your neighbors. Burglars have lots of people they can steal from, lots of choices of homes they can burglarize. Which houses on your street look like soft touches (no security, bushes by the front door, flimsy doors or windows, and the like)? You don't want to be the weakest house in the neighborhood.

Get to know your neighbors. Sadly, many of us barely know the people living next to us. Neighbors who look out for one another are a great tool to fight crime. For example, park your car in the driveway of a neighbor that is away, just to give that house the appearance of someone at home.

Beef up vulnerabilities.First in priority is the doors. They would rather come in through a door. And they'd rather come in through the front door.

Make sure doors are well secured and window latches are latched. Exterior lighting is important (but don't leave your porch light on 24/7; "If you leave a porch light all day that's code in the criminal world to know you're gone.") Prominent alarm system signs and keypads will warn off potential thieves.

Don't leave other signals that you're gone, either. A garbage can put out on Thursday when pickup isn't until Monday? Mail and newspapers piling up? Unshoveled snow? A mostly dark house with lights that never go on or off? Might as well put up a neon sign proclaiming "No one home; help yourself."

And after Christmas, don't set the empty boxes that those new big-screen TVs and video game systems came in out on the curb. Break them down and put them in your trash can.

The main piece of our advice is to make and follow a security plan for your home and your family.

Consider who you let into your house. Grill the companies you hire about the employees who will be working inside your home, and don't leave them unattended. Its not uncommon for companies overburdened with work to take on casual labor without vetting them. Also ask your children about the people they are bringing into the house, and make sure those friends aren't left to wander the house unescorted.

Custom Solutions

Each home and family has unique security needs. We will work with you to get an accurate idea of what your family and home security needs are and help you create a customized security solution that meet your needs. Across our services, ADT can provide innovative, custom solutions from an array of intrusion, life safety, and home lifestyle options to help you realize and experience the benefits of your custom solution.

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Given the ongoing integration of technologies, such as home computers, video, lighting and security systems, ADT Custom Home Services is constantly evolving to offer you the gold standard in home security and management.