Keeping your home and belongings safe is important, but most home security systems cost thousands of dollars. And if you’re a renter, your lease might prevent you from installing a security system. Luckily, there are DIY home security tips that can help keep your home safe simply and affordably. Here are our top DIY home security tips:

1. Make it Look Like Someone is Home

An overwhelming majority of burglaries take place during the day, most commonly between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Burglars typically target unoccupied homes, for obvious reasons. When you’re gone for an extended period of time, such as on a business trip or a vacation, your home is especially vulnerable. Here are a few ways to make it look like your home is occupied, whether you’re just at work or out of town:

• Keep a car parked in the driveway or ask someone to check on your house so that vehicles are in your driveway regularly

• Have the post office hold your mail so potential burglars don’t notice your mail piling up (a surefire sign you’re out of town)

• Arrange for lawn care for extended trips

• Ask a neighbor to bring trash cans and recycle bins to the street and take them back to your house

2. Keep Your Doors and Windows Locked

This seems obvious as far as DIY home security, but you may be surprised to find that most burglars enter homes through doors or windows that are unlocked or easy to open. Window stops are a simple way to prevent windows from being forced open. For sliding glass doors, a wooden dowel or rod can stop a burglar from prying the door open.

It’s important not to leave a key out for service people, like dog walkers or repair technicians while you’re out of town. Burglars know that people commonly hide keys under doormats or rocks, or in specially made "key holder" rocks. If you currently rely on this method, consider installing a smart lock for your door instead. This gives you the ability to control your door lock from your smartphone and control who has access to your home when you’re gone.

3. Create a DIY Home Security System with Smart Lights and Plugs

As we mentioned, a dark, quiet house is a magnet for burglars. Fortunately, smart light bulbs and appliances make it easy to create a DIY home security system and make your home look and sound like people are there. Smart light bulbs allow you to turn your lights on and off when you’re gone or set them to a schedule. Smart plugs let you to turn your TV or music on so it looks like people are relaxing at home. These are also great ways to make sure space heaters, irons, and other fire hazards are turned off when you’re not home, giving you additional peace of mind!

4. Landscaping as a DIY Home Security System

Overgrown bushes and large trees are ideal hiding spots for burglars to hide before and after breaking into your home because neighbors and passers by can’t see them. If you have trees or shrubbery near doors or windows, make sure you keep them trimmed.

You can take your landscaping a step further and add plants that discourage theft and break-ins. Thorny plants or shrubbery that can cause injury deter burglars and form a dense barrier that’s noisy when broken. Consider these options:

• Holly bushes

• Firethorn

• Golden bamboo (when grown close to the house)

• Blackthorn

• Purple berberis

5. Sensor-Based Home Security

One of the easiest, most affordable, and most effective options for your DIY home security system are sensors that detect movements. Sensor security, like the POMAlarm, is ideal to alert you when theft occurs from someone already in your home, like a service technician, house sitter, or dog walker. This type of theft is much more common and also harder to prove, since the person was invited into your home.

These small sensors connect to your home’s wi-fi network and attach to your door, window, or valuables inside your home. You’ll get an alert when the sensor is moved because someone tried to open a door, drawer, or move something with a sensor attached. They’re ideal for your jewelry box, liquor cabinet, medicine cabinet, or any place where you store valuables. Whether your teen gets into your liquor cabinet or a burglar tries to break into a door or window, you’ll be alerted.

Affordable and simple to use, a sensor like the POMAlarm gives you the ability to protect your belongings from both theft and burglary. That’s complete peace of mind.