[Horatio Gates]

Sounds like some good advice especially your suggestion. The only few things I'd add are make sure exterior lighting is functional and in operation. If you must have lots of foliage around the house try to have something that will rip a potential burglar to shreds. You can also have hedges trimmed up from underneath. Works just as well as trimming down. If you have an alarm system...use it. Not least but last, get practice time at the range just in case

[Stoat]

Sounds like some good advice especially your suggestion. The only few things I'd add are make sure exterior lighting is functional and in operation. If you must have lots of foliage around the house try to have something that will rip a potential burglar to shreds. You can also have hedges trimmed up from underneath. Works just as well as trimming down. If you have an alarm system...use it. Not least but last, get practice time at the range just in case

THANK YOU so very much for your kind words and excellent suggestions!  Essential points all, and some that I'll wager most here haven't even thought of.