House Sitter: A house sitter is one of the best protections against break-ins. This person should be a trusted neighbor, relative or friend of the family who can call the police if something happens.

To help your house sitter or the person checking on your home, make a list of things about your home, such as where the power boxes are, where the water lines are and other important details. You could also make a list of other people that would be able to help with the house sitting, just in case one person can't cover all the responsibilities, like feeding pets and watering plants.

Alarm System: An alarm system for your home is an excellent deterrent to prevent a robbery. Studies have even shown that inactive security cameras that are visible to prowlers will deter a break-in. If you set an alarm before going on vacation, inform anyone who has access to your home―you don't want it accidentally going off!

Mail and Newspaper: Remember to call your newspaper service to put your newspapers on hold until you return. Most newspaper services will happily oblige. Also, contact the post office to put your mail on hold. Mail can usually be put on hold for up to thirty days and can be setup two weeks before the date you want it to start. An alternative is to have a friend collect the papers and mail each day.

Other Precautions: According to experts, the best measure of protection is making it look as if you are still at home. Some simple solutions are to put a motion detector on the outdoor lights and a timer on the TV and indoor lights, turning them on during evening hours and making your home look occupied.