# ways to look like I'm home during the day

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-look-like-im-home-during-the-day/471630>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 7, 2008, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-look-like-im-home-during-the-day/471630 "2008-11-07T14:05:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-look-like-im-home-during-the-day/471630/21 "2008-11-08T05:51:09Z")

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Throw some kid’s toys on the lawn. I can always tell when my sister is away from home because she cleans up the toys before she steps out. With toys on the lawn, maybe a small cheap bicycle, it might look like a kid is about to come around the house or out the front door and jump on for a spin.

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**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-look-like-im-home-during-the-day/471630/22 "2008-11-08T06:00:09Z")

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> [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](#):
>
> It seems like a good idea to minimize the impression that you have good stuff to steal. For example, avoid having a big screen TV clearly visible through the windows.

A good idea to do this is through pasting frost glass film on your windows, like this stuff here:  
[http://www.instantstainedglass.com/Privacy%20Film.htm](http://www.instantstainedglass.com/Privacy%20Film.htm)

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-look-like-im-home-during-the-day/471630/23 "2008-11-08T11:50:51Z")

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Net curtains are another option.

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**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-look-like-im-home-during-the-day/471630/24 "2008-11-08T12:17:43Z")

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Leave your TV or stereo on, with the sound at a reasonably high level. People hear the sound through the door and assume someone is home.

I think I was nearly burgled about 6 months ago. I was sitting at the computer when the front door bell rang 5-6 times. I wasn’t expecting anybody or anything. I finished typing a sentence and stood to walk to the door when someone tried to open it.

This\_is\_why\_I\_always\_keep\_my\_doors\_locked—even if I’m home.

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