A recent attempted robbery in Pueblo can serve as a lesson to help keep us all safe.

Pueblo police were called to the 2400 block of Crawford for a burglary in progress around 11:30 p.m. Friday. A witness in the area reportedly saw someone carrying what appeared to be a stereo out the back door of the home. When police arrived, the suspect tried to run, but was quickly caught by officers.

The suspect, 18-year-old Samuel Herrera, told police that he first tried knocking on the door. When no one answered, he went to the back of the house, broke out a window and snuck inside.

Police say that this is a common tactic that thieves will use. If they suspect a house is empty, they will often try knocking first. If no one comes to the door, they will attempt to break in.

Police also credit alert neighbors who first noticed Herrera allegedly taking items from the house. Police say observant neighbors who call police to check on suspicious activities can reduce the amount of successful break-ins in neighborhoods.

There are a few other things you can do to protect your home. Nearly a third of all break-ins happen at the front door. Almost everybody has a deadbolt lock on their front door, but are they latching correctly? Make sure your deadbolt latches fully. Sometimes deadbolts will hit the door frame before fully latching, allowing a would-be thief to jimmy the lock open.

Securing your windows and sliding glass doors can make unwanted entry into your home more work than an intruder may be willing to go through. Install sash locks on all windows, and use metal or hard wood to stick into sliding glass doors to prevent the door from being forced open.

While a majority of break-ins happen during the day, installing motion-activated lights outside your home will allow your home to be well illuminated, making it less desirable to thieves.

Herrera was booked into the Pueblo County Jail on charges of second-degree burglary and criminal mischief.