This bar can be laid across external doors at night. It reinforces the lower part of the door and means efforts to knock it in will create far more noise — always effective in deterring burglars. Windows should be fitted with locks. For ease of use, you can arrange for all locks fitted to be opened with a single key. If you go to , there is a home security audit checklist on the site to help you identify potential weak areas in your security and offer solutions. In 2016, there were an estimated 1,053,000 home burglaries in the United States, according to FBI data. That means there's a burglary about every 30 seconds. These numbers alone help build the case for implementing a good security system in your home, but they aren't the only reason for the urgency. After all, burglars don't discriminate. "Criminals are creatures of opportunity and wherever there's an opportunity to strike, they will, be it in a big city or small suburb," says Lee Walters, founder of FortifyMyHouse. com, a home security education website.