TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Your home may be your castle, but there are plenty of invaders looking to invade your home and haul off your stuff.
But don't be a victim.
Your security might catch a burglar on camera, but by the time you catch something on video, prevention has failed and you'll struggle to get your stuff back.
When Karen Gidley and Sylvia Bencomo check neighborhoods they have a Sheriff's vehicle and official uniforms. But they are unpaid volunteers with the Sheriff's Auxiliary. One of their specialties is checking homes to reduce the chance burglars will hit while the owners are away.
"We also recommend that with any sliding door that you put in a security bar or a dowel in there so that someone can't open that easily," said Gidley.
It seems so basic, but they do find people forgot to lock one of the doors or windows.
Don't let newspapers or packages pile up outside the house. They tell the world you're away.
If you are away long enough your landscaping can easily grow into a giveaway that you are not home. So it pays to make sure someone is taking care of your yard.
And while we're on landscaping, here's a tip we've been hearing for years. Plant something with plenty of thorns under your windows so the prospect of plenty of pain will keep a burglar away.
Gated communities can give false security. Gates may be open and there's often another way in, especially on foot.
Dogs are not only a good deterrent inside the house, Gidley says it's good to get to know people walking their dogs down your street.
"Dog walkers go by every day. They get used to the neighborhood. They see things. They're a really good source to be able to spot something suspicious," said Gidley.
Overall, burglars look for an easy target. Anything you can do to make your house too much time and trouble can keep you from being a victim.
