I do the light thing! It's truly the best deterrent I've found!

When my grandparents house got robbed last year, the police told them that an alarm system is not really a deterrent, since there is still plenty of time for them to get in and get out before anyone shows up.

The first place and only the person who robbed the house went was to the bedroom, however.

Personally, I think alarm systems are annoying, and have yet to hear from a person that it actually prevented someone who was robbing their house from getting away with it. (Because it's not like a potential thief leaves a note that says, "oh hi, was going to rob the place, but saw that ADT sign on the front lawn. Better luck next time!")

Luckily, my big dog is also a loud one! ;)

We have an old safe that's kept in the dining room - it weighs a ton, it takes four men just to lift it up, much less move it. It's a very safe place for valuables.

Also, we have an agreement with our neighbours, who we've known for years - we go away, they park one of their cars in our driveway, and come in and turn on lights, take in the mail, move curtains and such. We do the same thing for them. Both of our houses are the only two on the block that haven't been robbed since my parents moved here almost 30 years ago, so they're doing something right.

I recommend, if you have a pet, consider hiring a pet sitter instead of taking your pet to the kennels. I do it from time to time, which means that your pet gets far less stressed than at the kennel, plus you get a free housesitter. I bring in mail, water plants, switch lights, etc. And, most importantly, look after the pets. :)

you can also put a tv on a timer...makes noise and the the motion of the lights from outside makes it clear that a TV is on. i always make it look like someone is home through any of the windows visible from the street...toys on the floor, newspaper on the coffee table, dishes on the table...i even leave inexpensive toys in the yard/on the portch. we also ask a neighbor to park in front of our place too.

great, all almost completely irrelevant for a broke college student living in a house owned by an offsite landlord.

I have a pet sitter and a housecleaner -- they come at irregular times while I'm away, so there's no prediciting when someone is going to show up. I also have an extremely nosey neighbor who always seems to know what I'm to, so I take advantage and let her know when I'm away and who will be coming/going and ask would she please please please call the police if she sees anything suspicious.

Keep the radio on 24/7 - just loud enough to be heard at the door/windows.

I work for an alarm company, and I feel I need to chime in here.
Alarm system are redundant.
I'm a great spokesman for my company, huh? But they are stupid (and sometimes expensive) time wasters. Maybe they give you a sense of security, but they're not going to help you too much when it counts.
Best case scenario: a burglar has at least five minutes free reign in your house before police have been dispatched. Then who knows how long it'll take them to get to your home. Worst case scenario: I've talked to people who got systems after they were robbed at knifepoint, but any burglar that's going to rob you while you're home and with a weapon isn't going to care that you have an alarm system. They're still going to rob you at knifepoint.
Save your money. They're more hassle than they're worth, and in many towns if you have false alarms, the police will charge you. And you will have false alarms.
You're better off being very close with your neighbors and getting a yappy dog. Have a real body in the home getting your mail, feeding your pets, watering the plants.
Have I mentioned I hate my job?

indiasoup: well, then, you shouldn't have much to steal

Everything is not going to be 100% relevant to everyone.

now, now deandrea. that was mean.