A thief usually assesses your house from the street first. Take these steps and he’ll avoid yours.

Evaluate the landscaping. Is that lovely flowering dogwood a good hiding spot for someone jimmying open a ground-floor window? “Prune back shrubbery from windows, doors, and walkways,” says Russ. Also, she adds, “examine the ‘climbability’ of tall trees near second-floor windows.” Prune these as well so burglars can’t use them like ladders.

Check the lighting. Every exterior door should be illuminated with at least a 40-watt bulb. Experts recommend easy-to-install motion-detecting light sensors (about $20 each at home-improvement stores). “Thieves want anonymity,” says Santamorena. “If a spotlight shines on them the second they step on your property, they’ll keep moving.” Random timers are also a good idea, especially if you typically arrive home after dark.

Secure windows and sliding glass doors. Look for windows made with laminated glass, which is not as breakable as tempered glass. Sliding glass doors are notoriously simple for thieves to get open, so put a metal bar or a solid-wood dowel in the tracking to secure the door when it’s closed, says Terri Kelly, managing director of Community Outreach & Government Relations for the National Crime Prevention Council.

Install — and use — reliable locks. In about 32 percent of home burglaries, there’s no sign of forced entry, meaning the burglar entered through an unlocked or open door or window. It takes most burglars less than 60 seconds to get inside, according to the BPC, and they typically enter through the front door. For all exterior doors, plus the door inside the garage that leads into the house, choose high-quality dead bolts (such as ASSA Abloy, Medeco, or the Schlage Primus, which start at around $140). If the lock is near a window or within 40 inches of a glass pane, install a double-cylinder dead bolt, which can be opened from the inside and the outside only with a key. (This way, burglars can’t break the glass, reach in, and turn the lock.) It’s best to use a locksmith who is a certified dealer of the brand you want, says Santamorena. (To find a locksmith, visit the manufacturer’s website.)

Fortify your doors. Exterior doors, including the garage door, should be solid wood, fiberglass, or steel, and the hinges should be on the inside, not the outside. If you do have exterior hinges and don’t want to move them, Santamorena suggests that you at least secure them with a locking pin, which makes the hinges difficult to move.

Put your street number, not your name, on the mailbox to avoid what Kelly calls one of the oldest tricks in the book: “Thieves dial information with your name and street address, and then call to see if anyone’s home.” But make sure your house number is clearly marked so emergency personnel can find you.

Advertise an alarm system, even if you don’t have one. While it’s best to have the real deal, just posting a lawn sign or a sticker will help, says Russ. Try to get one from a friend or a neighbor who has an alarm; experienced thieves can spot a fake.

Declutter the yard. When you’re out or away, don’t leave tools, ladders, or even toys lying around. Thieves can use them to break into your house.

Forget the fake rock and other hide-a-key tricks. Thieves know all the hiding spots you’ve thought of. “You can’t fool a burglar by putting a key above the doorjamb, under the doormat, or beneath a plastic figurine in your yard,” says Santamorena. Give a spare key to a trusted neighbor, or buy a steel combination lockbox made specifically for keys. (One model is the GE AccessPoint KeySafe, from $40. Find retailers at www.gesecurity.com.) Bolt it to something on the property that is easy for everyone in your family to access. “These lockboxes are so reliable that I’ve installed them right next to a door,” says Santamorena.

Don’t leave your garage-door opener exposed. Burglars can swipe a garage-door opener from an unlocked car and use it later to get into the house.

Censor your trash. The box your new flat-screen TV came in announces that you have stuff worth stealing. “Cut the carton up and tie the pieces together before you put them out on the curb,” says Russ.