Keep up to date on the happenings in your home whether you’re sitting on your sofa, or out running errands. With the home automation features available today—like remote activation of your security system, control of your lighting and appliances, as well as live video streaming to your phone—it’s easier than ever to monitor your home from anywhere.

Don’t forget to take care of the obvious when you’re making sure your home is locked up. A locked door is useless if you leave a spare key in an easily accessible location like under a flower pot or door mat. It’s much safer to leave a spare key with a friend or neighbor. And don’t forget about the windows. Leaving a window open even a crack can be an open invitation to a burglar. Clear the way of hedges and bushes lining the front or side of your home, these can quickly turn into aids for the hiding thief. Outside lighting is also crucial—eliminating dark perimeters and driveways can be one of your best deterrents for burglars.

Secure your community with a Neighborhood Watch program. If your neighborhood doesn’t have one, take measures to start one. If there’s already one in place, find out where and when they meet, and become a more informed citizen. Neighborhood Watch programs help people get to know their neighbors, strengthen the security of their neighborhoods, and find new ways to watch out for and report crime. Contact your local law enforcement agency to find out about neighborhood watch programs in your area.

When you go on vacation, it’s a prime-time for your house to be broken into. Try to avoid announcing your specific plans on social media, or making it clear online that the house will be empty. You’ll want to maintain a ‘lived in’ appearance while you’re away—having the mail and newspapers stopped before you leave can help with this. You can also set lights on timers to come on at different times during the evening and through the night. It is important to also let trusted neighbors know you’ll be away so they can keep an eye on your home. Ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway at random times, or if it snows while you’re gone, ask a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house.