Home security, in buying order.

1. 1

   Lock it every time

   • Doors and windows, even when you are home
   • Even for a five-minute run to the store
   • Close the garage before you get out of the car
2. 2

   Re-key when you move in

   • You do not know who has copies of old keys
   • Re-key or change every exterior lock
   • Renters: ask the landlord to re-key
3. 3

   Deadbolt, one-inch throw

   • A deadbolt on every exterior door
   • The bolt should extend at least one inch
   • Chain locks break easily; do not count on them
4. 4

   Longer strike plate screws

   • Short factory screws make doors easy to kick in
   • Use three-inch screws that reach the wall stud
   • Four to six screws per strike plate
5. 5

   Light the entrances

   • Porch, side, back and garage doors
   • Motion lights are a good choice
   • Mount bulbs out of reach from the ground
6. 6

   Trim the hiding spots

   • Cut shrubs that block doors and windows
   • Cut back limbs that reach upper windows
   • Doors visible from the street
7. 7

   Sliding door bar

   • A wood dowel or metal bar in the bottom track
   • Screws in the top track so it cannot lift out
   • Cut a dowel to fit the closed door snugly
8. 8

   Window pins and locks

   • Thumb latches are easy to pry
   • A pin or nail through both sashes stops lifting
   • Keyed locks: everyone knows where the key is
9. 9

   Peephole, not a chain

   • A wide-angle viewer shows who is there
   • See visitors without opening the door
   • Solid wood or metal exterior doors
10. 10

    Know your neighbors

    • Swap phone numbers with the people next door
    • Ask about joining a Neighborhood Watch
    • Trade favors: mail, packages, driveway parking
11. 11

    Look lived-in when away

    • Light timers set to a random pattern
    • Stop the mail or have a friend collect it
    • No travel plans on social media until home
12. 12

    Doorbell camera last

    • Helpful, but not a substitute for locks
    • Aim it at the door and the walkway
    • Ask if your police department has a camera registry

Lock it, light it, longer screws. Most of home security costs less than dinner out.