Have you just moved into a new neighborhood? If so, then you want to make sure you secure your home so you know everyone in your household and your belongings will be more secure. This article will offer you tips on 10 things you can do to help prevent the occurrence of a break-in or vandalism.

1: Keep your belongings put up

Anything you leave out in your yard can quickly disappear. All tools, bicycles and other equipment or belongings should be put where they are out of the view of people going past your house and secured.

2: Consider putting up a fence

Putting up a locking fence of any style will help prevent break-ins, as long as it provides you with a tall border that goes around the whole property.

3: Install window guards

Window guards make it so a criminal can't get in by opening or breaking the windows. These guards can be opened from inside the house if need be.

4: Get a dog

Any sized dog can bark when there is an intruder and alert you. However, a larger dog will also increase the chances of the person being scared off out of fear of being attacked.

5: Make it look like men live in the house

Whether or not there are men in the house, you want to make it look like there is to other people. Setting a pair of work boots on the porch and leaving a large flannel shirt hanging over the porch railing are a couple of examples of things you can do to indicate the presence of a man in the house.

6: Cut back foliage that provides hiding areas

You don't want to provide a criminal with a place to stay out of sight while trying to break in to your house. All bushes and trees near windows and doors should be trimmed so neighbors can see if someone is attempting to get into your home.

7: Get to know your nearest neighbors

When you move into a new home, meet the neighbors nearest to you. Give them your phone number and take theirs. This way, they can call you if they spot something going on at your house that doesn't look right, and you can do the same for them.

8: Park your car in the garage

If you park your car in the garage, there will be less risk of it getting vandalized or broken into. Also, it makes it harder for someone to learn your schedule by keeping track of the times your car is at home and gone.

9: Install motion activated lights

Motion activated lights will come on when someone walks in front of them. This will make it easier to spot someone in your yard and it lets them know there is an increased chance of them being caught.

10: Install a security system with cameras

Most criminals will pass right by a house that has a security system, especially if it also has cameras. However, if they don't then the system will be triggered, alerting both those in your household and law enforcement to the problem. Cameras will record everything so they can be identified and prosecuted. Contact a company like Arapahoe County Security Center Inc to learn more about security cameras.