If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And 1 might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet. I almost never go into kids' rooms.

You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.

A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system.

Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.

I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TV s or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.

To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.

Don't put a mourning wreath or some other sign of bereavement on your front door. We check obituaries and funeral times, and if something looks promising we'll hit during the funeral.

Do you really need a double tragedy?