Take in your newspapers/magazines
This ex-burglar would spend two entire days looking at homes to burglarize. He would look for the classic signs, such as no lights and no movement. He also paid attention to the position and stack of newspapers on the front lawn. If the newspapers hadn’t moved for several days, he would mark the home as a potential place to visit.
So, if you’re going to be out of town for a few days, ask a neighbor to take your newspapers off your lawn. This trick works especially well with smart lights that activate at preprogrammed times of the day.