The Safety Chick Fortifies Your Home's Interior

America's Most Wanted has teamed up with Safety Chick, Kathleen Baty, to collect the best practices for your safety -- starting with safety tips for the interior of your home.

Kathleen is the author of  "A Girl's Gotta Do What A Girl's Gotta Do."  After an obsessive stalker attempted to kidnap her at knifepoint, she turned her fear into into power and became the Safety Chick.

Every 8 seconds -- how often a burglary takes place in the US

3 out of 4 homes -- how many will be burglarized within the next 20 years

$1600 - average take from a burglary

30% - burglaries committed through unlocked doors or windows

The good news is, a home security audit can improve the odds in your favor.

MYTH: Burglars find sneaky ways to break into houses.

FACT: Most burglars actually walk through an open door, though a determined burglar will find his way in.

Always lock all doors and windows even if you're just leaving for a few minutes.

If you have a pet who needs to go outside when you're not home replace a solid exterior door with a pet door.

All exterior doors should be solid-core doors with heavy duty deadbolts.

MYTH: Most Break ins occur after dark

FACT: Most burglaries happen during the day when people are generally not home.

Get a dog. A barking dog-even a small one-will deters most burglars.

Invest in an alarm system. A do-it-yourself alarm system can be purchased for $50-$300 at most hardware stores. The kits usually include a motion detector, door charm and window sensors.

MYTH: No one is watching my house.

FACT: The majority of burglaries are not random. There are simple thing you can do to deter a predator who is casing your house.

Do not leave keys in a lock near a glass window or door. Place the keys above the door or in a key holder nearby but out of sight.

If you are going to leave your windows open, install safety locks. These allow the window to be open a crack but will keep predators out. They can be purchased for low cost at any hardware store.

Keep expensive items away from the windows.

Make sure your children are sleeping near secured windows or doors. An open window to a child's room is an invitation for a criminal.

Super Cost Effective Safety Ideas!

If you can not afford an alarm system you can purchase alarm and security stickers for your windows or front lawn at most security stores and websites. The FBI says, the sign alone will deter many criminals.

If you can not purchase a dog you can purchase key chains at most security stores that make believable barking sounds.

When you leave the house put a $50 bill on the table. If the bill is missing when you return you know someone has been in the house.