How to Deter a Robber is a 2020 American crime comedy film written and directed by Maria Bissell and starring Vanessa Marano, Benjamin Papac, Abbie Cobb, Sonny Valicenti, Gabrielle Carteris and Chris Mulkey.

While spending Christmas at a lakeside holiday cabin, Madison (Vanessa Marano) bickers with her mother (Gabrielle Carteris).

Bored and annoyed, she and her dopey boyfriend Jimmy (Benjamin Papac) spot a light switched on in their neighbours' presumably empty house.

They telephone the local police who on arrival, do not initially believe the teenager's story but have doubts about their culpability on realising that they were the ones who had dialled 911 in the first place.

[3] Mel Valentin of Screen Anarchy gave the film a positive review and wrote, "How to Deter a Robber will and should be remembered as the work of a talented, first-time filmmaker.