ADAMS COUNTY, ILL. -- The crime of burglary is often seen as a crime of opportunity.

You take away any opportunity for someone to break into your home, and hopefully, you take away that crime.

Adams County Sheriff Brent Fischer offers some advice and lets you know what to do if you become a victim of burglary

"I think a burglar can occur in any neighborhood whether it's good or bad. Wherever you may live," says Sheriff Brent Fischer.

That's why it's important to be proactive in protecting yourself. Especially since crime usually goes up when the economy goes down. There are easy things to do such as making sure all of your doors and windows are locked. If you're going to be out of town, have a friend, neighbor, or family member check on your house. You can also add motion detection lights, or put some of your lights inside the home on a timer. Now if you come home and you think your house has been broken into, it's best to not go inside.

"The burglar could still be in the house. So keep that in mind. Your first thing should be to call 911," says Fischer.

Another reason not to go inside, what's inside may be able to help police solve the crime.

"There may be footprints or fingerprints on the items that are moved that we don't want you to move. There could be footprints around the house," says Fischer.

Another proactive step you can take is documenting everything in your home.

One good piece of advice, on your birthday, take a camcorder around your house and video tape everything in it.

Then keep that video somewhere else, perhaps a family member's house or in your car.