ORLANDO, Fla. -- Home invasions are one of the most common crimes in Central Florida, but homeowners can take some precautions to help protect against the crime, according to a Problem Solver investigation.

Problem Solver Wendy Saltzman featured a typical Central Florida home with overgrown hedges and unlocked gates that presented a potential target for criminals.

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Tuesday's Report

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"From the outside, it definitely looks like an easy target," Orange County Sheriff's spokeswoman Marian Hultgreen said. "It would be easy for the bad guy to hide, to go ahead and get into the window without anyone seeing him from the roadway."

Hultgreen noticed that the home's doors also provided easy access for thieves.

"The hinge pin is even coming out," Hultgreen said. "It can be jimmied out. I don't want to give away all of the bad guys' secrets, but it is easy to remove the door that way."

The outside of a home is the first level of defense, she said.

"We're looking for good visibility," Hultgreen said. "We're making it hard for somebody to get into your back yard. We're looking for the visual deterrents outside. One of the things I noticed is they have an alarm company sign, so hopefully they have an alarm that us monitored inside this house. These are all deterrents. These are reasons if I were the bad guy I would turn away and go somewhere else."

Also, the report said, simple steps such as locking your garage can keep invaders away.

Hultgreen said if a house has security issues outside, it likely has them inside the home. Hultgreen said the fact that the family left several blinds open is a mistake.

A good door lock also helps protect a home against criminals.

"Another thing is just the basic door lock," Hultgreen said. "And really what you need is a dead bolt lock."

Also, extra locks and security bars on sliding glass doors can secure a home against a simple break-in.

Saltzman said preventative measures can help police recover your property.

"Something you want to do is go ahead and record the serial numbers of your valuables," Hultgreen said.

Homeowners can get a free residential security survey flyer from their local police or sheriff's office, according to the report.

Tuesday, Problem Solver Tony Pipitone will show viewers how to conduct criminal background checks on people like your child's coach, babysitter, or even teacher. The reports will air on Local 6 First News beginning at 6 a.m.

Watch Local 6 News for more reports on protecting your family all week.