Do-it-Yourself Security Audit walks you through important steps to safeguard your home

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. - Do you have plans this holiday weekend? Your fun getaway could be the perfect opportunity for a criminal to break into your home.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office showed ABC Action News how a simple security audit can make your home less of a target for a thief.

Looking at a random home in Pasco County, Corporal Alan Wilkett immediately noticed a problem.

The hinges on one door are on the outside of the home, rather than on the inside. The door can easily be popped off. It is something Wilkett has seen a lot, usually after it is too late.

According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies investigated more than 3,800 burglaries in 2009. More than 4,000 were reported in 2008.

Wilkett says those numbers could be significantly lower if homeowners performed their own security audit. An audit that is now easy to find online.

Wilkett walked us through the four things that all homeowners should examine before leaving their home.

"There's the exterior part of the home, even the shrubbery," Wilkett said.

Wilkett says having lush landscaping can actually attract criminals.

"One of the things we would suggest is that the shrubbery around the home is below the window line so that if a crime is occurring, they'll be observed by somebody whenever they're going through there," said Wilkett.

The audit also recommends you look at the structure of your house, both exterior and interior, including "doors, windows, garage doors - the places that are the typical entry places for a burglary to a residence," said Wilkett.

Finally, Wilkett says you should create a photo library of all of your most treasured items, so that if something does disappear, you can accurately report it.

Wilkett admits that even if you go through the audit and make home improvements, crime could still happen in your home.

"What we say to that, though, is that the more we lessen the opportunity, the less likely they'll spend breaking into my residence and into my home," he said.

To download the four page guide so you can do your own security audit, visit the Pasco County Sheriff's Office website at www.pascosheriff.com/websmart/pasco/static/Community%20Service.htm