Building cheaply - this is how it can be done too!

I think one should differentiate a bit when it comes to the topic of burglary. Against gang-like burglary crews, you are probably helpless up to and including RC4. They get in quickly but most likely also have special tools and plenty of "expertise" and experience. Economically, however, anything above RC3 is probably not worthwhile for the single-family home sector—and even RC3 is often not economically sensible in many cases. In those cases, an alarm system is probably the better investment.

What is probably discussed here, however, is the "spontaneous" burglary in the sense of acquisitive crime or at least not an organized burglary. Since special tools are rarely used there, windows/doors with RC2 on the ground floor or RC2N on the upper floor can already buy valuable minutes and have a deterrent effect. I think I once read somewhere that this type of burglar leaves if he sees no progress in the first 2 minutes. Not without reason do the RC "definitions" come from:

RC2N -> Opportunistic offenders breaking open locked AND bolted components with simple tools (screwdriver, pliers, wedge): 3 minutes resistance

RC2 -> The same as RC2N, but not with "standard glass," rather with safety glass P4A.

RC3 -> "Experienced" offenders additionally using a second tool (crowbar, screwdriver) to break open locked AND bolted components: 5 minutes resistance

Therefore, there is probably little protection against "professional" methods, but maybe some against spontaneous attempts. However, there are also quite a few opinions saying one should neglect all the RC madness and rather rely on motion detectors and a nicely illuminated facade. Others say: great, then you just give the burglar more light. Whatever you do, you do it wrong.

Personally, I go for RC2 on the ground floor, RC2N on the upper floor, and an outer shell monitoring system (which the KNX bus practically provides for free with the window contacts and motion detectors). Since we don’t have roller shutters but only venetian blinds, I don’t rely on shading as an "obstacle," but I wouldn’t do that with roller shutters either—that would be too little for me.

But as many have already written, just as the feeling of security is subjective, so are the protective measures.

I am still of the opinion that as a citizen I have a duty to mitigate damage, which is covered by closed windows and doors....Laptops, smartphones, and tablets should not be placed on the windowsill or similar...the rest can be taken care of by [Gevater Staat] and that includes a significantly higher clearance rate for burglary offenses. As long as the perpetrators do not have to fear being caught, even RC2+ security solutions do not provide real security.

So the standard remains, at least then the gangs don’t break everything when they break in our blinds should primarily darken and serve as a visual barrier

Moving to an area with few burglaries.

I once read that light is the most effective. Allegedly, houses and apartments with lights on are unattractive. Of course, this only helps if the garage is closed so that no one notices the missing cars. Neglected outdoor areas would also indicate little money.

Unkempt outdoor areas would also indicate little money.

but it can also suggest that the owners haven't been there for a long time. In a new development, I wouldn't break in any earlier than in 10 years anyway..

Move to an area with few burglaries.

Canada?!

Unkempt outdoor areas would also indicate little money.

... why stop at the front yard? Then the whole house can look like the Flodders' place, then surely no one will come by. The question is whether you would still want to live there yourself and why you would even build your "dream house" (which also includes the garden) then...?!

Unkempt outdoor areas? I can handle that! Good tip.

Back to building cheaply. You can also ask your builders about cheap options. Something like, what could we do to save another 15 on the house price. I did that too. He came up with suggestions. Forgoing the choice of interior doors if we fix them as white and leave the selection to him, there are always promotions at the wholesalers. He would then take advantage of those. Forgoing German windows, instead Polish windows. Instead of two Velux in the roof, only one. Only one terrace door to open. Roof eaves made of wood, pretreated white, final treatment by me instead of the HDF boards. Instead of Braas Doppel S, Harzer Pfanne Braas. Samples for tiles at Harry in Lübeck, where he could get 20%, he would pass on 10% of that. We discussed these suggestions, all agreed they were good alternatives, and just like that, we had 10 in the bag. Karsten