I have spent most of my career stealing from people just like you. I was a member of the "Dinner Set" burglary ring for a dozen years. We stole about $70 million in jewelry -- for which I spent 11 years in prison.

No one is better qualified to tell you that most people don't do enough to protect their homes.

Mistakes people make most often... .

Mistake #1: Installing -- but not using -- alarms. Nearly all of the houses we robbed had expensive alarm systems -- and more than half the time, the alarms weren't turned on.

Set the alarm even if you are only running out for 15 minutes. Sophisticated burglars watch neighborhoods and learn when residents go to work or run errands and how long they are likely to be away. They're ready to move the minute you leave.

Get a zone alarm system that has room-by-room control. You can leave the bedroom alarm on when you're spending the evening in the living room, for example. We often burglarized homes while people were having dinner.

The best alarms offer multiple layers of protection -- motion sensors, heat sensors, light sensors, etc.

Mistake #2: Posting detailed alarm signs. Don't display signs that identify the alarm company. Burglars can buy information on how the systems are wired -- and how to bypass specific versions.

Better: Buy signs at home-supply stores that read, This house is protected by an alarm system. As long as it doesn't give specific information, it can be a good deterrent.

Mistake #3: Leaving lights on. A light that stays on all the time is no more of a deterrent than a dark house. Use timers that turn lights on and off in different parts of the house at different intervals. Electronics and home-improvement stores sell motion detectors that turn on lights or appliances if someone enters the house. Cost: About $20 each.

Mistake #4: Hiding valuables in the bedroom. It's the first place burglars look. We used to spend 15 minutes or less in each house we robbed. More than half of that time was spent in the bedroom, checking the usual hiding places -- the underwear drawer... under the mattress... high closet shelves, etc.

Keep money or jewelry you rarely wear in a safe-deposit box. Hide other valuables in places where burglars don't think to look -- in the garage, for example, or above removable ceiling tiles. Or hide valuables in the freezer or in fake soup cans made for this purpose.

Don't hide all of your valuables in one place. A burglar is less likely to get everything if you put things in different locations.

Mistake #5: Getting a big dog. A 100-pound rottweiler or German shepherd might look scary, but burglars know better. Most big breeds, unless they're trained as guard dogs, aren't barkers. What you want are "yappers," small dogs that make a lot of noise. Breeds such as chihuahuas are better deterrents than large dogs.

Mistake #6: Hiding windows with landscaping. Tall bushes and shrubs allow burglars to jimmy windows without being seen. Keep bushes trimmed to below window level.

Also, don't count on cactuses or other thorny plants to prevent entry. Professional thieves routinely wear gloves and two layers of clothes -- and carry cutting tools to remove thorny obstacles.

Mistake #7: Having newspaper and mail delivery stopped. When you ask to have your paper or mail stopped, you don't know who gets the information. Have a neighbor pick up newspapers and mail. Ask friends to drop by at different times of the day. The more activity burglars see, the less likely they are to target your house.

Mistake #8: Counting on chain locks. They're useless. The screws that hold them only go about one-half inch into the door or frame. They pull out with very little pressure.

Secure every exterior door with deadbolts. Use three -- one each at the top, middle and bottom -- of exterior doors. Install them directly across from hinges for more strength.