MOST IMPORTANT, make your house appear like someone is always home.
Do not stop your mail and newspaper. Have a trusted neighbor pick them up each day.
Have your blinds and curtains open during the day, and closed at night.
On garbage pick up day, have a neighbor take out your trash containers.
If you have a second car, leave it in the driveway. A car in the driveway tells the potential burglar that someone may be home.
If you have a garage door with an electric opener, unplug it and also make sure that you lock it.
Use timers on lights, radios, tv’s, etc., and set them to go on and off at different times. Turn off the ringers on your phones. Most phones come with switches to either lower the volume of ringers or turn them off all together.
If you’re going to be gone for any length of time, make arrangements to have your lawn mowed.
Let a trusted neighbor(s) know that you’re going out of town and ask if they would keep an eye on your home.