If you are buying a new home, either to occupy yourself or as a property to rent out to others, you will want to make it as secure as possible against any possibility of it being broken into. The same can be said if you rent a home, too. Although the risk of burglary is sometimes exaggerated by some in the media in Britain, this does not mean that the risk does not exist - especially if you live in a heavily populated urban area - which means that few sensible people will want to take a chance when it comes to their home and possessions.
To start with, you should think about getting some form of insurance protection, for example contents insurance. Home insurance policies, of the kind offered by a variety of major insurance providers, will not actually prevent your home from being burgled, but it will at least ensure that you do not have to pay for any repairs or replacements yourself.
If you own the home, you will probably be best served by a comprehensive home and contents policy, whereas if you rent, you will just want to insure the contents. However, most insurance providers will expect you to take steps to reduce the insurance risk posed by your property, which means installing security measures.
At a basic level, this will just mean installing burglar alarms and good solid locks on the doors and windows which, aside from the fact that it will enable you to get home insurance at a lower premium rate, is the kind of basic security measures that anyone should be looking to install in their home anyway. You can also consider installing an outside light for the property, as this should act as a deterrent to any possible burglar, and should also help to lower the cost of the premiums you are charged for your home insurance.
Ultimately, although you do not want to go over the top with intrusive security measures, the more sensible precautions you can take, the lower the chance of being burgled and the lower your insurance premiums will be.