Editor's Note: This resource has been revised and updated for 2019 best practices.

A major component of family preparedness is the maintenance of comfort, control, and self-preservation in a time of crisis.  Whatever the source of the crisis, we as humans want to protect the homestead and our loved ones at any cost.  (And by the way, many species on the animal kingdom do the same.)

The reason I bring this topic to the forefront is that recently, at a community meeting, I learned that home burglaries in my area are on the rise.  This, in a community where many still do not lock their doors, was no surprise to me given the dire straits so many are in financially.  And this isn't localized. As the financial crunch continues with no end in sight, you can expect to see property crimes on the rise.

The meeting was a wake-up call reminding me that I need to do an inventory of the home security and crime prevention measures currently in place so that I can ensure that both my family and my preps are secure.  In doing so, I came up with these 20 time-tested crime prevention secrets for preppers.

20+ [NOW 30+ in 2018] Countermeasures to Secure Your Homes and Families From Crime

There are lots of things we can do to make our homes seem uninviting to criminals. The more difficult your property looks to breach, the more likely it is that would-be thieves will select an easier target.

1.  Secure your doors with multiple locking mechanisms

Yes, it is an annoyance to carry multiple keys but why make it easy for the bad guys?  A deadbolt is essential and even two would not be excessive. Make sure the locks are difficult to pick.

2. Reinforce your door frame

Remember that a lock is only as good as the strength of the door frame. It doesn't matter how many locks you have if they are only supported by a flimsy interior frame. A strong person can generally break those down with a well-placed hit from a shoulder. Invest in a high-quality metal frame. These are very difficult to breach.