With the recent rise in crime, Clark wants to take a moment to revisit his advice about burglar alarms.

Nothing makes you feel more invaded than coming home to a break-in. Burglar alarm salespeople often read local police reports and may show up with an emotional sales pitch seeking to capitalize on your fear and anxiety.

Of course, it's better to search for an alarm-monitoring company before you need them. Clark recommends looking in the YellowPages and starting to call companies from the back of the listings -- not the ones at the front with the big ads.

First off, ask if they require a contract. You never want to sign a long-term contract. If you do, you open yourself to the danger of hidden rollover provisions.

Your second question should be about their monthly monitoring fees. You want something in the mid-to-high teens -- no more than $20/month.

Then you have equipment installation costs. You can usually get a preliminary quote over the phone by counting the number of doors and windows you have to protect. Consider adding an internal motion sensor as well. Initial equipment installation costs can be anywhere between $600 and $800 for a typical home.

Finally, make sure your monitoring station is UL approved.