Well I live in a nice area, but someone managed to break in - although they didn't get very far cos I think the cats came tumbling down the stairs thinking it was me (which sounds like a herd of elephants) and scared them off. But my mother always says that I work on the "just burgled" domestic arrangements - ie the burglars look thru the windows, see the house is an utter tip and think "she's already been done, let's go next door".
Seriously though Jenna, it's not great being a girl on your own and noises at night scare the cpra out of me. Make sure you have good quality mortice locks and chains on all the doors and locking windows - but when you are not there, leave the keys in, since if anyone does get in, it creates less damage. You could always get an alarm or a dummy box. Keep your mobile with you at night so if you need help quickly and the phones don't work you can get it. Your local police may be able to advise on personal security too.
Having said that, I went to bed totally trolleyed the other night and left the front door unlocked and no harm came to me (apart from a v bad hangover)!!