Jim,
I would be glad to give you what I know. As you may have guessed, crime is the same, but different depending on what part of the country you live in...if that makes any sense. I am an LEO here in Central Florida and I can tell you that 9 out of 10 burglaries that occur in my area are:
#1. Randomly chosen
#2. Targets of opportunity
#3 Usually are a quick "in and out" job
Understand for others reading this post, this is how it is in MY area. It may vary in other cities, counties and states. This is based on my 6 years experience in this general area. For the most part, here is the scenario as I commonly see it.
Burglars are usually one or two man teams and typically live in the same community or within a few miles (in the same town at a minumum). Suprisingly, despite what television shows have you believing, most of our burglaries occur during the day in broad daylight. The burglar usually drives through a neighborhood and looks for the house that is most inviting...that is, the house that appears unoccupied at the time. Once said burglar chooses the residence, some have even been known to knock on the front door waiting for a response. If the burglar gets a response (like say your home but your wife has the car), he/she will ask for someone by name that they know doesn't live there. You tell them no and they go find another house somewhere else.
If they do not get a response, they will usually do a quick look around through your windows and doors, ensuring that no one is home and seeing what goodies are in plain view. When it comes to entry, well that depends on the burlgar...some will simply use a door or window you have left unlocked...some lift the sliding glass doors off of the track (common and easy to do)...but in my experience, most just kick in the front door in, breaking the door frame and giving them instant access to your house.
Once inside, the burglars usually respond to the bedrooms first. Once there they begin opening most of your dressers, cabinets, closets, etc. (the common hiding areas for most people). Jewelry is almost always taken, as well as cash and change. They will also take small electronic devices (ipods, gaming consoles, etc.). Now what they take really depends on how they arrived on scene. If they are on foot, it is usually money, jewelry and small items that they can carry on their person. If in a vehicle, electronics are most often the target, inlcluding your televisions, gaming consoles, movies, stereos, firearms, tools, etc.
For the most part, if a burlgar feels comfortable that there is no alarm or reason to rush (sirens, phones ringing, etc.), he/she may spend as much time as needed...especially if he is on foot. This is because there is no vehicle outside to raise suspicion from neighbors and passer-by's. Essentially, no one knows he is there because the house appears normal.
If he/she is in a vehicle, they are usually very quick, grabbing items in plain view or in obvious hiding places (sock drawer, under your matress, etc.). Once they have the items, they throw them in the vehicle and they are gone. If he/she is on foot they put everything in thier pockets or in backpack and leave out the back door usually. Most of the burglars that are on foot usually know the area and use pathways, cut throughs, etc....staying off of the main roads.
Then you come home to find out that your front door is broken or your slider is opened and items are missing. A terrible feeling I can imagine, as I see it on thier faces all of the time. BUT - Like you suspect, there are many things you can do to help prevent burglars from entering your house. I can tell you in the last 6 years of continuous weekly burglaries, I can't recall one burglary that occured where the owner owned a large or aggresive dog. I really can't...so IMHO, that would be the #1 burglar deterant. Here is a small list of things you can do before leaving your home.
#1.) Make sure all windows and doors are locked. It's very easy to turn a handle or remove a screen and lift the window.
#2.) Close all of your blinds and curtains. This eliminates the burglar from seeing your toys inside.
#3.) If you have an alarm system, buy a VERY LOUD audible alarm that sound immediately. The burlgar may damage your door, but will typically run when it sounds.
#4.) If it is at night, make sure you have motion lights or at a minimum leave a few small lights on inside. I like leaving the tv on with the volume up.
#5.) DO NOT HIDE YOUR INHERITANCE UNDER YOUR MATTRESS OR IN YOUR SOCK DRAWER. Get a safe...a real one. You may be able to hide your jewelry in a pistol sized safe, but guess what...the nice handle it comes with makes is easy for the burglar to carry it out.
#6) When you buy high priced items (TVs, Gaming Consoles, Guns, etc.), do not place the boxes out by the road with the trash (break the boxes down and put them in garbage bags)...better that the two houses down doesnt know what you have in your house.
#7) Lock any entryways into your house (e.i. the door inside your garage). It is very easy to defeat a garage door locking mechanism, so lock the interior door as well.
#8) If your going to be gone for an extented period of time and you have a neighbor your trust, let them know and have them keep watch. Give them your number and specific instructions (like to call the police if there is a car parked in the driveway, etc.).
#9) It may be cheesy, but put an alarm company sign out front, even if you dont have an alarm. It may not prevent a burglary, but may make them think twice.
#10) If you can afford it, buy a video security system and a good DVR that records 24/7. I have solved several burlgaries with footage (tags, faces, suspects, direction of travel, etc.)
There are probably a million different precautions you can take but remeber this. Short of your house being armored, if a burlgar really wants in, he'll find a way. But that doesn't mean you can't make it difficult for him. Keep your valuables in a safe, give FIDO all the love he requires and lock your doors...those small things can change a burglars mind.
Even though I am an LEO, I still take several preventive measures when I leave my house. I first conduct a walk through checking to make sure all of the doors and windows are locked. I shut all of the blinds and curtains. I turn on a light or two and usually turn on the tv. If at night, I flip on my porch light and make sure the switches are on for my motion lights. When I leave from the garage, I lock the interior door (both handle and bolt lock) and when I press the clicker, I watch the door go all the way down and close. Dont assume because you pressed the button the garage door will close. Wait 5 extra seconds, its not gonna kill you.
I hope that this has helped in some way and undertand this is just my opinion and experience. These are not rules to live by, but are recommended. Just a simple 3-5 minute walk through everytime you leave may mean the difference between being burglarized or preventing a burglary.
* I also forgot to add something in my first post. Record EVERY serial number on anything in your home that has one...especially your firearms. With no serial numbers, the chances of recovery are usually cut in half. If you have serial numbers, you can at least have them entered into FCIC/NCIC for the future. That way if the idiot tries pawning anything or a good officer decides to run a serial number, it will come back as a hit and you will get the item back. I say this because no sh*t, my second year on the road, I recovered a nickle plated S&W .38 special from the trunk of a car on a traffic stop. I arrested the driver for possession of cocaine and when I searched his car I found the pistol in the trunk. I ran the serial number and BAM! It came back as a hit...the gun had been missing for over 10 years and the victim lived in Tennessee I believe. The pistol was worn, but he got it back. So take that for what its worth. And when you record your serial numbers, dont just write them down. If you have a computer, write it in a document, save it in several different places and put it on a flash drive (in case burglar steals your computer). Am I paranoid? Maybe, but I feel better.
