Sean Wasko of Butler flattens a box, so he can place it in his recycling bin.

For most people, home is where they feel safest, so when a thief or burglar violates their privacy, the fear it instills is only natural.

According to statistics compiled by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, burglary and theft have declined since 1993, but that doesn't mean it's time to relax.

There were still 2.9 million U.S. homes burglarized in 2015. Since January, 126 homes have been burglarized in Butler County involving the theft of $138,182 worth of property, according to data compiled by the Uniform Crime Reporting System.

Don't be a target

According to Butler Township Police Chief John Hays, there are a number of ways a person can protect their home, simply by not making themselves targets and doing the little things.

“Don't leave anything in plain view,” Hays said. “Keep the door locked.”

Hays said a good deadbolt will also prevent forced entry through the door, but there are many other ways to break into a home, and they can vary depending on the target.

According the Home Burglary Prevention Guide, published by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Training and Education, the two key things to do to prevent burglaries are knowing what you have and not showing those items.

Openly displayed items should not be visible from the window, and owning a garage is great, if it's used to actually store cars.

New times also bring new problems, specifically in regard to online shopping. Since the criminal innovation of package snatching, people are aware that they should not leave packages on their porch for long, but some may forget that those boxes need to go some place.

A tower of boxes by the dumpster may be an invitation to watching burglars. People shouldn't leave boxes piled next to the garbage can, but instead should flatten the boxes and place them inconspicuously inside or under the garbage can.

“Don't flaunt your belongings,” the pamphlet advises. “Leave burglars guessing at what they will find and where to find them.”

Turn on a light

While burglaries that occur while the victim is at home are a stressful and frightening scenario, most burglaries occur when the resident is not at home.

Hays said residents should take measures to make it appear as if they are home, even when they're not. He said lighting can go a long way to preventing burglaries at night, and keeping the shrubs around a house short eliminates possible hiding spots.

“Have some lights on in the house,” he said. “Outside, have some lights that are activated by movement.”

Hays said these methods will help when the resident is gone for a short time, but if someone leaves on vacation, they may need to seek help from others to help guard their home.

The Butler Township Police Department offers to do routine checks on homes of residents that are leaving for an extended period.

Hays said the program is used a lot by those who have seasonal homes elsewhere, but he acknowledged that the officers can only devote a certain amount of time to these homes without compromising their other assignments and duties.

“If you trust the neighbors, let them know you're gone,” Hays said.

He said neighbors can fill in the blanks and sense unusual sights and sounds that happen after police patrols.

It takes a community to watch out for one another.