There was a story in a Home Security Journal recently about a professional burglar who was believed to have committed as many as 120 burglaries in the United Kingdom. He finally was caught and as part of a plea agreement agreed to divulge some of his secrets. Burglary in England is just as big a problem as it is in the United States although the penalties are much more severe.

So he decided to spill the beans so to speak. Here are some of his tips for homeowners to prevent home burglaries.

He told authorities that he never used force to gain entry into a house. 90% of all home burglaries happen through unlocked doors and windows. So tip number one is to lock your doors and windows even when you're at home.

Our burglar pro said professional burglars would never choose a house that had a security camera outside-even a fake one. Dummy security cameras are very effective because it so hard to tell whether they are fake or not.

The next one was not surprising. He said he and his burglar buddies always avoided well-lit homes and that motion activated spotlights outside or motion activated lights inside the house were a big deterrent.

He told police that burglars will never risk going into a house if they hear a barking dog. It just so happens that the barking dog alarm is a great alternative to getting a dog. It makes sounds of a barking dog when someone answers a protected area up to 20 feet away.

And last was a tip that I've never heard before, but makes perfect sense. He avoided patios, driveways and walkways that were pebbled because walking across them made so much noise.

Take heed from a pro and improve your home security today. Home Security Tips