A friend of mine recently was burglarized. Unfortunately, she hadn’t availed herself of the local police department’s home anti-burglary demonstration; not only did she lose many precious items, but also her peace of mind. Store theft and home burglaries are on the rise largely because of our tough economic conditions.

Yet we homeowners can reduce the chance that our homes are targeted. Thanks to Bottom Line Personal (several editions) and local law enforcement, readers can ensure their house becomes less appealing to would-be robbers.

— Trim shrubbery away from the house, especially the windows and door, and add outdoor security, motion detector lights and timers on inside lamps. If Terry Thief feels comfortable amidst the bushy arborvitae in your flower bed, he’ll have few qualms about breaking that window behind the bushes. Ideally, hedges should be replaced with plants no taller than knee high. Likewise, if Terry comes on your property despite the interior lamps that come on and off each evening, but those high-powered floodlights pop on, he probably won’t waste any time skedaddling on down the road.

— Keep your garage door closed as much as possible. It’s a no-brainer not to leave the door open when you’re away, which advertizes that possibly no one’s at home. Closing the door when gone but leaving it up when you’re home sends the message that the garage door is closed only when the house is vacant. (Naturally, if you keep bikes, golf clubs, and/or other expensive equipment in your garage, you’re inviting someone to steal them at any time the garage is open.)

— “Beware of the Dog” signs discourage intruders. Even if you have no furry Fido friend, this warning gives “Terry” pause. If you own a small yappy dog, you’re in even better protection-mode. These little creatures bark incessantly when anyone gets too near their abode.

— Stop newspaper and mail deliveries when you’re away. Nothing screams “NOBODY HOME” louder than piled up papers in the driveway. Ask a trusted neighbor to look out for packages and the like, too; I’d hate for Great Uncle Carlo to overnight a prized possession and “Terry” scoops it up while you’re riding the teacups at Disneyland!

— Be careful when you die. OK, this sounds really weird; perhaps I should say instead to be careful about placing obituaries in the local papers. This advice is a new one to me but it makes sense. I’m told many burglars regularly scan the obits to see which surviving relatives are mentioned.

Once the addresses of the mourners are obtained, the thieves break into these houses while the relatives are at the funeral. Instead of listing survivors or the date and time of the service, provide only a telephone number to call for those persons who wish to attend the service.

Ellen Phillips is a retired English teacher who has written two consumer-oriented books. Her Consumer Watch column appears on Saturdays in the Business section of the paper. An expanded version is at www.timesfreepress.com under Local Business. E-mail her at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com