According to the Department of Justice and the FBI, of the more than 2 million burglaries reported in 2010, 73.9 percent took place in residential homes rather than businesses. Those burglaries averaged more than $2,100 in stolen items, adding up to nearly $4.6 billion in lost property in one year alone!

While burglaries did decrease by 2 percent in 2010 when compared to 2009 (2011 statistics are still being compiled), burglary remains a fact of life. It happens every day, often to people who think it'll never happen to them.

Despite these alarming statistics, you're not at the mercy of the would-be burglars. Believe it or not, it's not fate that determines whether your house is burglarized. Taking the right steps...and avoiding others...can significantly reduce your risk.

How to Protect Your Home

Recent studies (including the Greenwich Study of Residential Security conducted by Drs. Simon Hakim, Gideon Fishman and Yochanan Shachmurove) have found that alarm systems are the single most effective way to reduce the risk of burglary. In addition, studies have noted that houses near wooded areas or in areas with easy access to highways tend to get targeted more often. If you're in the market for a new home, you may want to consider these factors.

If you already live in a house or want to purchase a house that fits that description, don't fear. You'll just want to take extra precautions, such as clearing the bushes and branches away from windows and entrances, installing fake or real security cameras in prominent places so potential thieves will see them, and maybe even starting up a neighborhood watch program.

In addition to those tips, the following steps can help you protect your home and provide a sense of security for your family.

What Should You Do?

• Lock doors and windows.
• Keep garage and tool shed locked.
• Clear obstructions in your yard, like bushes near windows, that might conceal a burglar.
• Change your locks when moving into a new house or apartment.
• Use exterior lighting around your home, especially motion detecting lights that can come on without notice and surprise a would-be burglar.
• Use a timer to turn lights on in your home when you're out of town.
• Even if a stranger asks to use your telephone for an emergency, say no. Instead, offer to make the call for them while they wait outside.

What Should You Avoid?

• Avoid keeping large sums of money in your house, but if you have to, don't brag about it even to close friends.
• Don't leave notes on your door with information about where you are or when you'll return.
• Don't hide a key, especially in obvious places. Leave your spare house keys with a trusted neighbor instead.
• Keep expensive electronic equipment and other high-price items out of site from the windows.
• Don't answer personal questions on telephone surveys that may give out information about your possessions or your schedule (e.g., what hours you work or when you get home every day).
• Never let a service representative from a utility company enter your house unless you have an appointment or can verify identification.
• If you use social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, don't broadthat you're going on vacation or when you'll be away for a trip. Wait until you get home, and then post the pictures or make posts about it.