Take Action to Prevent Burglaries

Here's an unlikely factor in home and car burglaries: You.

Unlocked doors and visible valuables make burglaries easy for thieves, officials say.

And there's an easy solution: Lock your doors and put away your belongings.

"They're looking for an easy target," said Debbie Moore, crime prevention specialist for the Polk County Sheriff's Office. "When you leave your car door unlocked and you leave those items in plain view, it's easy to open the door, reach in and take it. The key to that is, always remove those items or don't leave them out in the open."

Moore said GPS systems are some of the most popular items to steal from cars. Others include iPods, wallets, purses and even coins. It works the same for homes.

Here are some of Moore's tips for protecting your home from burglars:

Lock your doors, and don't leave the spare key in an obvious place such as underneath the flower pot or door mat.

Keep your garage door closed. Burglars won't discriminate, and Moore says an open garage door, even with a car parked inside, is like an invitation for a burglary.

Trim your shrubs and bushes, especially those near windows and other openings. Those can be good hiding places for burglars.

Put away the lawn mower and yard tools. Not only can those items be stolen, Moore said, but they can be used easily to break into homes and cars.

Good lighting. Motion-detecting lights can ward off prowlers. When you're away for an extended period of time, put the indoor lights on a timer so that it appears as if someone is home.

Retrieve deliveries and mail daily, and avoid sending out mail from your personal mailbox. Regular retrieval gives the appearance, again, that someone is home. But it also prevents burglars from taking credit cards and checks, which can lead to identity theft.

If you can, try to vary your schedule. Burglars want to know when exactly you will and won't be home.