The good news is that we can do a lot ourselves to lessen the risk of being burgled. Installing simple security measures like window locks and deadlocks on doors can reduce your risk of being burgled from 14.7% to 2.8%. Here's our top ten home security tips to keep the burglars at bay.

The sound of breaking glass
Burglars hate breaking glass - it's noisy and hazardous. So fit window locks with the British Standard kitemark. Louvred windows are especially vulnerable, so replace them with more secure units. Don't forget to lock small windows: agile thieves can squeeze through any opening larger than a human head!

Closed door
Surprisingly, burglars often enter a property through the front door. Make sure you have a strong door at least 44mm thick. Fit a BS3621 five-lever mortice deadlock a third of the way up. Back this up with a chain - and use it. If you have glazed panels near a door, replace them with laminated glass. Fit security mortice locks to the top and bottom of French doors.

Open invite
Don't leave inviting items such as cash, credit cards, keys or mobile phones where burglars can see them. Mark valuable pieces of property with your postcode and house or flat name or number. Marked property is difficult to sell on and deters burglars.

High visibility
Install a burglar alarm and make sure it's prominently displayed on the outside of your house. Choose a British Standard-approved device. Bad guys hate 'em.

Light fantastic
Exterior lighting at night is a powerful deterrent to burglars. Use always-on, "dusk-to-dawn" lighting rather than the devices triggered by motion sensors. They annoy the neighbours and create false alarms.

I-spy
Why should you open your front door if you don't know who's behind it? Fit a spy-hole and get into the habit of using it. Legitimate callers don't mind them - shifty types shy away.

Tidy tools
Your tools are great for maintenance and DIY but they're very handy for burglars, too. Lock them away properly, taking special care with spades (powerful levers that can force open windows) and ladders.

Hedging your bets
Burglars love to lurk behind tall hedges, shrubs or fences in a front garden while they gain entry to your property. Make sure there's nothing higher than 1 metre shielding your property from the road and burglars will have nowhere to hide.

Someone's in
Be imaginative when you leave interior lights on while you're out of the house. You can now buy sophisticated timers that introduce random timing to the way that lights or radios are activated over the course of an evening.

Flat Knox
There are several ways to discourage burglars if you live in a flat. Fit hinge bolts: they'll prevent the door being forced off its hinges. Reinforce the door frame with a steel plate. In addition to window locks, fit grilles to windows near flat roofs or drainpipes. Use entry phones properly. Don't get into the habit of "buzzing" people in without knowing who they are. You can also fit an inexpensive door chime that will sound if someone stands on your doormat.