Imagine throwing a dinner party for 15 people while a burglar makes his way into your master bedroom and walks away with your valuables in under eight minutes. That's precisely what our hidden camera captures when a former thief pulls off a mock burglary in a home in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Erica, our volunteer, thought there was "no way" the burglar would succeed. But according to Walter Shaw, a former career burglar who now teaches safety to homeowners, dinnertime is the easiest time for a heist as the owners are congregated in one part of the house.

During our mock-robbery, Shaw uses Erica's ladder to climb through a window and raid her bedroom pocketing jewelry, passports and social security cards. Erica is shocked, but relieved it is not a real robbery. "I am so happy that I could teach my family a lesson and teach them how to be safer," she says. "It's a lesson for everybody."

What could they have done to prevent Walter's entry? Shaw shares his tips for keeping your family safe:

Keep window alarms on at all times. You may feel safe if you're home, but windows should be protected even if you are in the house.

Choose clever hiding places for valuables. Walter says burglars often target five key areas: the space between mattresses, the night stand, the bathroom, the vanity area, and the closet. So consider alternate spots for your precious belongings.
Wire the floor of your bedroom closet with silent alarms. If a burglar makes it to your closet and hunts around for valuables they will trigger the silent alarm.

Place heat sensors outside the house to trigger lights and alert you to prowlers. "When the light comes on you know there's someone in your backyard," Walter says. "Never assume it's an animal. Assume it's somebody on your property. I'd rather be safe than sorry."

Consider smaller dogs as watch dogs. Walter says a small pooch like a chihuahua or a poodle can actually be more effective if there's a burglar in the home. "The little small ones ... those are the most annoying," he explains, "and you can't get to them because they jump around."

Lock the shed and garage. A potential burglar might use your ladder or other tools to break in, so either lock the garage or use a heavy chain to lock up the ladder.

Once your house is protected there's one more precaution you can take to prevent a crime when you're out of your house: Keep quiet about your possessions. "There's no reason to go into a place like a manicurist and tell them what your husband just bought you," Walter says. "There's no reason to advertise it."