As the break-ins increase and there's no sign of them relenting, Eric Bean, a former crime prevention officer, gives homeowners ten easy ways to secure their lodgings.

1. Target Hardening — Ensure locks on the windows and doors are secure.

2. Target Removal — If you have a VCR, DVD player, or other valuables in plain sight, move them to a less visible place.

3. Remove the means for crime — do not leave shovels, concrete blocks and other tools outside that could be used to break a window or door.

4. Reduce the pay-off — Make sure your items are 'U' marked, which can be done by the Police, so the criminal cannot try to sell your items.

5. Access Control — Go around your home and see how you could get into a window for example. Think like a thief.

6. Real Setting — Put signs up like 'No Trespassing' or 'No loitering' because these give the Police powers to arrest someone because they are committing an offence.

7. Natural Surveillance — Stand on the road and see if you can see your windows. If you can't neither can your neighbours who might be able to sound the alarm is someone is trying to break-in. Hedges provide good cover for the criminal.

8. Increase the chances of being caught — Hedges that are more than three or four feet high are more likely to hide an offender trying to break into your house. Keep them lower or more sparse so neighbours and you can see through the hedge.

9. Deflecting the Offender — Put up a youth centre or a park will make the area more inviting for the community and less for the criminal.

10. Environmental Design — making sure the house is constructed in a way that gives someone trying to break-in less access.