You can be on a two-week vacation or just out for the day, but your home is always a potential target for burglars. The C|Net website recommends taking these precautions:

1. Keep doors and windows locked. This may seem obvious, but it's easy to forget. Lock up every time you go to work or to the store. Double-check locks when leaving on a long-term trip. 

2. Secure your doors. Make sure all doors have a deadbolt. Consider smart locks, which you can activate remotely. Check the frames and hinges on your doors to ensure they are strong enough to resist a break-in attempt. 

3. Install a home security system. Door and window sensors can alert you to suspicious movements on or near your house; some will call the police automatically.

4. Hide your valuable items. Don't position computers, large TVs, or other electronics where they can be easily seen through your windows. Keep jewelry, cash, and other tempting loot out of sight and locked up securely. 

5. Invest in outdoor lighting. Floodlights can keep intruders away. Motion- detecting sensors that activate when someone comes near your house saves you energy and amps up security. Caught off-guard, most potential intruders will leave once the lights come on. 

6. Be careful when hiding keys. Most burglars know to look for keys hidden under the doormat, in your mailbox, or in a flower pot. Store them in a combination lockbox, far from your doorway instead.