Answers to Your Questions from Bottom Line Experts

Q: What are the most effective deterrents to home burglars?

A: Factors found in a recent study to best reduce risk of home
burglary...

A burglar alarm is the factor that reduces risk of burglary the most.
It cuts the risk by about 12%.

Having neighbors pick up mail and newspapers when you're not at home
is next most important, reducing risk by about 8%.

An automatic time switch and/or motion detector to turn exterior
lights on and off reduces risk about 7%.

Having a car in the driveway when no one is home reduces risk about
4%.

Having a dog in the household, installing deadbolt locks and having a
radio or television timer to turn them on and off when nobody is home,
each reduce risk by less than 3%.

Altogether, taking these steps can reduce risk of burglary by about
one-third.