Some home security recommendations are supported by burglary pattern research, while others are more anecdotal, and distinguishing them helps prioritize spending.
Visible security cameras and yard signage indicating a security system, even relatively inexpensive ones, are associated with reduced burglary likelihood in research on offender decision-making, since many opportunistic burglars actively avoid homes showing visible security measures.
Adequate exterior lighting, particularly motion-activated lighting near entry points, similarly correlates with reduced risk by removing the cover of darkness many opportunistic break-ins rely on.
Reinforcing actual entry points — door frames and strike plates specifically, not just the lock itself — addresses the documented reality that forced entry often involves the frame failing rather than the lock mechanism itself being defeated.
Spending priority should generally follow this evidence: visible deterrents and entry point hardening first, with monitored alarm systems as a complementary additional layer rather than a replacement for these fundamentals.