Property crime was up in the U.S. from 2010 to 2011—but the jump may be due to historically low crime rates in 2010 and may not be a harbinger of doom.

A new government report showed property crime increased 11 percent and household burglaries increased 14 percent year over year—to about 138 crimes and 29 thefts per 1,000 households. In the previous 10-year period from 2002 to 2011, however, total property crime was actually down 18 percent and burglary rates were flat.

Regardless whether the increases are a one-year blip or indicate a coming trend, it’s never a bad time to focus on how to best protect your home and family from theft. Here are some top tips:

1. Keep bushes, shrubs, and trees trimmed so intruders won’t have places to hide, and so your windows and doors are visible to your neighbors.
2. Keep shades and window treatments closed so thieves can’t go “window shopping” in your home.
3. Don’t throw away big boxes from expensive purchases like TVs at your curb, which just advertises what’s there to steal.
4. Install motion-sensing security lights on the exterior of your home, which will startle intruders and alert you and your neighbors to their presence.
5. Use timers on lights as well as TVs or radios when you’re not at home—the sounds will be even more convincing that someone is home.

Contact your Farm Bureau Insurance agent today to learn more about ways to protect your home and family from crime, as well as how safety precautions can impact your homeowner’s insurance.