Do you have a security alarm system? If so, is it silent or audible? A very loud audible alarm that can attract the attention of neighbors can often be the best option because police take their ever-loving sweet time responding to most home burglar alarms, as most are false alarms. An audible alarm motivates your neighbors to look out the windows and call 911 and take notes and perhaps photos of on/of what they see. I am a big fan of block watch programs. Consider organizing a block meeting and invite all your nearby neighbors and come up with a plan on how to watch out for one another and what procedures should be used.  Crucial information like vehicle descriptions and license numbers is what the cops need to catch the bad guys. Keep in mind that if you want an effective block watch program, everyone needs to be on the same page with the basics. 

Installing burglar bars is an excellent deterrent but they can be expensive and of course they are an eyesore. Given the poor police response time in most areas though I would say these bars should be the first option if you can afford it and tolerate the appearance. All the expat homes in Africa (and in much of Europe for that matter) have them and I couldn't help but feel very vulnerable in my own home when I returned to the States because there were no burglar bars. You see these bars on windows AND doors in high crime areas of large cities but for some reason, they are rare in the higher-end neighborhoods that attract thieves. Yes, they are ugly but they do present a definite deterrent to thieves. 

Cameras are another option but home surveillance camera systems can be very expensive. You are on a budget you can save a lot of money by simply mounting some fake cameras at visible locations within range of any doors or windows that are likely to be used as points of entry. You can even mount some inside the house. You can order these units from home security supply catalogues and they are quite reasonable in price. Thieves don't like being recorded on camera so if they see the cameras they are likely to move on to the next house. If you do nothing else, I would recommend you take this step.

You can find them by cutting and pasting the following the following link in your browser:

http://www.hughessecuritysolutions.net/Fake_Security_Cameras_From_Hughes_Security_Solutions_s/4.htm

Another thing: make sure shrubs are trimmed well back from any windows so thieves will be in view if they try to break in through those locations.