How to protect against burglary

Rl,
The automatic Pitbull/security concept is fundamentally flawed. There are reasons why Police/security companies do not utilize that breed. The media generated propaganda sold copy and at the same time opened the breed to be the most abused and most misunderstood!
Some career burglars are dog lovers and understand that some homeowners have the false confidence that their big dog will automatically protect their home while they are gone and enjoy proving that belief wrong.
In reality many dogs will enjoy the company of the unexpected confident guest.
It can be done right, of course, as the real APBT has been my favorite breed and always will be.

I agreement with Macdadtexas,
On many accounts the burglars went past VERY valuable art, only to steal the television and dvd player, and maybe the toaster.

A friend with many years as a detective in law enforcement discussed this with me. Most thieves are after prosaic, easy to fence items. Macdadtexas explained the problem for the thieves well. Most of them are going to go for your wife's jewelry box, look for your guns, and walk past the expensive art and heavy audio equipment. They might try to take your nice plasma tv, but that's probably going to be the extent of their "heavy" ambitions.

As to discouraging burglars, make your house (assuming you live in a house) a less attractive target than your neighbors. Thieves want maximum return for minimum risk. Follow the usual advice about trimming shrubbery, keeping windows locked, outdoor lighting, etc.

Imo, a visual deterrent is going to encourage a thief to move on to a different target. I have a walk out basement with large windows at the back of the house. I also have security shutters on each of them that scroll down in a track and interlock producing a solid and formidable obstacle to any would-be thieves. I also have working cameras attached to the eaves and although visible and identifiable, are not obtrusive but small and discreet enough to not be visible from the street. The looks on some of these goofballs' faces at the moment of recognition is really worth the expense. At least for the cameras which are quite inexpensive including the recording equipment. Complete kit with four cameras for around $600.00

Disguise your gear!

As all my electronics are located in a hallway clothes closet I simply:

-cover the mono block power amps with a brassiere

-drape a teddy over the turntable

-a single pair of granny panties covers both line and phono preamps

-I'll leave the CD player to everyone's imagination