Once, just once mind you, I left my purse in the vehicle while the car next to me watched and I didn't think he would break in the vehicle!!! But he did and I have never left any thing of value out in the open of my vehicle.

I agree that plenty of lighting like porch motion sensing lights are very helpful. I would mention that it helps to report rowdy neighbors to police, using the non-emergency line if you live in a smaller suburb, and report code compliance to 311 to keep things nice. When the police hang out in the neighborhood more often, there is noticeably less crime.