I’ll have to say that this is one of my most passionately written articles, to date. Over a month ago, someone broke into my home while my entire family was asleep. Valuable items were stolen; some gadgets, cash and jewelry.

It was a rather harrowing experience. For one, our sense of security and privacy was severely violated. Who wants a stranger prowling around in your house in the middle of the night? Especially when there are children around. It was only our biggest relief that no one got hurt in the process. It was clear what they wanted: items that would be easy to sell or pawn.

How did they get in? They broke off one of the window grilles and managed to pry open a window to conveniently get inside the premises.

The sense of loss that comes with having things taken away from you without knowing is indescribable. But what is even more painful is the sheer sentimental value of items that you have brought along with you during memorable occasions in your life.

The emotional trauma that follows is also no joke. There’s having to deal with the constant paranoia that someone might just come waltzing in the door; it was, more than anything, the feeling that you weren’t safe anymore in your very own home. The first night after the burglary, I had to sleep with a badminton racket beside me. It was very hard to sleep.

In this light, and with the prevalence of even more burglaries and even more innovative modus operandi in the metro, I’d like to share some firsthand advice and researched tips on how to burglar-proof your home.

1. Identify all possible points of entry in the house.

Besides the obvious entry points in the house such as doors, it’s important to consider other areas where intruders could possibly enter or even break to get inside your house. Think windows, terraces, etc.

2. Choose hard-wearing doors and windows.

Doors

There are “hollow” doors, which can be bent out of the doorframe using a car jack. Make sure your doors are made of sturdy materials such as solid wood, metal or fiber glass.

Strengthen your door frames by using 3-inch screws along the frame and doorstop. This prevents burglars from simply kicking or prying open the door with a crowbar.

You can also install viewers, or peepholes, in your door, so you can check who is outside before opening the door.

For sliding doors, you can put keyed locks at the top and bottom. Rochell Bonamy, a freelance photographer, also suggests to have them checked regularly, as sometimes they can still be opened even when seemingly locked. "Try opening them without keys to check if they're really locked," she recommends.

Click here to read on about how to burglarproof windows, gates, as well as information on burglar alarms and motion detectors.