Home security is not a recent development in the evolution of man.
Since man first began to settle down from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle to begin farming, security of the homestead began to gain in importance as well as relevance.
Protecting your home today is just as important, if not more-so.
If you don't take home security, you put your valuables, your family, and even your life at risk.
Fortunately, there are some pretty basic things you can do (and not do) to protect your home, starting with a reliable home security system:

• Do pick the right home security system.
  Home security systems have come way down in price, and chances are pretty good you can find one to fit your home and your needs but still stay within your budget.
  
• Don't invite prying eyes into your home.
  That means keeping your blinds closed at night, and it means thinking twice about who you let into your house.
  
• Do close and lock windows and doors when they're not in use.
  Make sure you have a couple of easy-out egress points in case of a fire, but otherwise go through the trouble to lock the door every time you enter or exit.
  
• Don't advertise your whereabouts.
  Social media makes it fun and interesting to announce to the world where you are.
  Unfortunately, it also tells would-be burglars that you're not at home.
  Make sure you lock down your Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and other settings so that only people you trust know you're gone.
  
• Do make it look like someone's home.
  Even if it's normally not occupied during the daytime, put lights, the TV, or a radio on a time to give burglars the impression that someone is there.
  
• Don't leave your home empty for long periods of time.
  If you're going out of town, consider a house-sitter.
  Ask someone to pick up your newspaper, or see about having your mail held.
  
• Do make sure there's a clear line of sight from the road to your house.
  Bushes and fences might make your yard look good, but if they provide a hiding place they also make the yard look inviting to a burglar.
  

Ultimately, your home security is in your hands, as it has been since our ancestors first began to settle and had to protect themselves from local predators.
Spend some time developing a comprehensive home security plan that covers all of these areas.
It won't take much time, but it does require a little bit of dedication and diligence.