The thought of someone breaking into your home is a terrifying one. Not everyone lives in a gated community with round-the-clock security or even a built-in home security system. However, there are certain things you can do to keep your home and your family safe, according to ex-burglars. Here are tips by former criminals on how to avoid getting burglarized.
Note: The following tips are not 100% guaranteed to deter or prevent burglaries. Reader discretion is advised.

Don’t blab about trips
This is probably the most important tip, seeing as how people love flaunting their wealth on social media. If you’re planning an out-of-town trip, just note that you’re informing potential burglars that your home is going to be completely empty. It sounds pretty simple, but you’d be surprised by how many people’s homes get robbed after they upload their itineraries.

Also, don’t assume everyone on your friends list is a trustworthy person. Studies show that our homes are more likely to be robbed by people we know than by total strangers. That’s not at all surprising since our good friends can enter our homes and see our belongings.