After all, I work hard, I pay my taxes and I'm honest Joe citizen. Why did that no good thief have to pick my home?

The burglar picked your home because your home looked the most attractive to him, not your neighbor's home, not the home of the guy down the street but your home.

Come on, let's take a look at your home through the eyes of a housebreaker maybe then you will see why the burglar found it so attractive.

Looking at the front of your house what's the first thing that we notice? All those bushes and trees, those bushes should be either removed or trimmed right down. As they are they provide too much shadow and cover, burglars don't like to be seen. And that tree right by your window that needs to go, a housebreaker could work on your window without much chance of being spotted by your neighbors or passers by.

And talking of your windows, you shouldn't be depending on those flimsy latches. Fit key operated window locks and remember to remove the key when you lock them which you should each time that you go out.

The more visible a window lock is the better protection it gives you. With good window locks a thief will have to smash the glass, and make noise doing so, to enter through your window.

What else can we see? You have a flat roof garage attached to your house. And look, an open window just above it, now that's an open invitation to a passing opportunist burglar.

You can deter thieves from climbing on to your flat roof garage with a coating of anti-climb paint around the top edge and the edge of the roof.

Let's take a walk around the side of your house. Hmm, a little gloomy here, do you really need such a high fence between you and your neighbor? A lower fence would help your neighbor keep an eye on your home and help you keep an eye on your neighbor's home. Motion sensitive lighting would be a good idea here too.

What's this? Your triple extension ladder left out here for the burglar to use! You were going to fix up your guttering but didn't get around to it yet so you left your ladder lying around. Talk about making the burglar's job easy, and you were asking why the burglar picked you! That ladder should be locked away in your garage or shed.

And talking of your shed let's take a look at it. Unlocked! You've a good quality padlock and a correctly fitted hasp, but you have left it unlocked. Why would a burglar be interested in your shed? Think of all that you keep in there. All those tools and all that equipment, a thief could snag himself a handy little paycheck by selling your stuff on, think what it would cost you to replace it all. Not only that but why give a burglar easy access to a selection of tools he could use to bust into your home? Keep your shed locked!

Let's take a good look at the door through to your kitchen. This door is not going to provide much of a problem to a burglar, all your exterior doors should be of solid core construction and have a high quality deadbolt lock installed. Deadbolt locks can withstand the attentions of a housebreaker that regular spring latch locks can't.

Okay, we haven't even talked about a home security alarm system or surveillance cameras and you are already beginning to see why the burglar picked your home.

As a homeowner you should do all that you can to make the burglar's task too risky, compared to alternative targets. Burglars don't like spending time breaking in, they don't like making noise and they don't like to be seen.

Are you a member of Neighborhood watch? No, I didn't think you are. Join it, there is no better home security than neighbor looking after neighbor. If there is no watch in your neighborhood - start one, your local police station will give you all the help you need.

It's a simple thing, make your home as unattractive as possible to a burglar and he will look for an easier target to pick on.