Ask for credentials from any sales-person who requests entry to your home. Ask that their ID be pushed under the door. Many professional burglars use this cover to check out homes. If you’re doubtful, check with the person’s office before letting him or her in.

If someone comes to your door asking to use the phone to call a mechanic or the police, keep the door locked and make the call yourself.

Trees located near windows or shrubbery that might shield a burglar from view can be major flaws in your home-protection plan. Consider your landscaping plan in light of your protection needs.

To keep your tools from being stolen, paint the handles. Thieves avoid items that are easy to identify.

Talk to your neighbors about any suspicious people or strange cars you notice lurking about.

Don’t leave notes for service people or family members on the door. These act as a welcome mat for a burglar.

Instead of keeping a spare key in a mailbox, under the doormat, or on a nail behind the garage, wrap the key in foil — or put it in a 35mm film can — and bury it where you can easily find it if you need it.

Before turning your house key over to a professional house cleaner for several hours, make sure the person is honest and reputable as well as hardworking. Check all references thoroughly. If the house cleaner is from a firm, call your local Better Business Bureau to check on the firm’s reputation.

If you lose your keys, change the locks immediately.

Your house should appear occupied at all times. Use timers to switch lights and radios on and off when you’re not at home.

Change all the locks and tumblers when you move into a new house.

Lock up your home, even if you go out only for a short time. Many burglars just walk in through an unlocked door or window.

Plan to “burglarize” yourself. You’ll discover any weaknesses in your security system that may have previously escaped your notice.