Signs Your Home Needs Better Security

If you haven’t experienced a break-in or other security threat yet, take proactive measures to prevent it from ever happening. Don’t just assume that because it hasn’t happened to you that it can’t. Do a thorough security assessment of your home, looking at every entry point. Test your outside locks to make sure they hold even if you try to force the door open. Keep up with basic maintenance of your home as well. A well-lit, busy-looking home is more of a deterrent to thieves than a building that looks dark and deserted. By taking these basic preventative steps, you can decrease the likelihood that your home with be a target for crime.

Signs That Better Security Is Needed

If Your Home Has Been Broken Into

Obviously after you’ve suffered the distressing experience that is a break-in to your own home, one of your first concerns afterward will be to repair the damage and move on. But it might not be enough to just fix the locks. During many robberies, the locks or doors themselves are damaged. It’s important to change the locks to higher quality hardware. A knowledgeable locksmith can explain the different types of locks available to you.

If Robbers Have Been Targeting Your Neighborhood

If other homes in your neighborhood or subdivision have been experiencing break-ins, yours might be the next target. Don’t assume that the burglars just hit a few homes and then went away to greener pastures. Criminals have a tendency to hunt for small areas that they can exploit, and if they’ve found a neighborhood in which they have found some targets that paid off, they might settle in to see how many houses they can hit in a short time.

If You Spend a Lot of Time Away From Home

If you’re going on vacation for a more significant time than a few days, or you travel a lot for work, you should consider upgrading your security. Burglars look for signs that a place is empty when they attempt to break in because that makes their work easier. Do things to present the illusion that your home is currently occupied, like putting a few lights on automatic timers, pausing your mail and newspaper, and having a trusted neighbor come over while you’re gone to check on things.

If You Own Many Valuables

If you own many high-value items that you want to protect, especially if those items are on the portable side, It’s important to keep these items away from the view of your windows, especially those at the front of your house. Consider keeping items of significant value, such as jewelry, in a home safe. There are many variations of home safes, including different types of opening mechanisms, from combination locks to fingerprint readers.

Safes aren’t the only form of security that can enhance the protection of your valuables. Besides high-quality locks, you can also consider keyless entry systems and security cameras, both of which a qualified locksmith can install to monitor your property. Not only will these keep a running log of every person who is entering your property, but they will provide evidence should a crime occur.

If it’s Easy to Get Inside When It Shouldn’t Be

This is why it’s important to perform a security inspection, because you might see areas for improvement that you never really noticed before. If you have an unsecured basement window, for example, or a faulty lock on a downstairs window, a burglar could easily gain access to your home and everything inside. Thieves know just what to look for, so you need to make sure not to overlook these vulnerabilities.

If Your Locks Are Older

If you’ve owned your home for ten years or more and you’re never changed the locks, they’ve certainly seen their fair share of traffic over the years. All of this locking and unlocking can cause your locks to naturally wear down over time, which makes it so they can’t do their job as well. Plus, there have been many upgrades in lock security in the past ten years which can provide far more protection than standard knob locks. Replacing your exterior locks is a relatively inexpensive home security upgrade that will pay you back many times over in increased peace of mind.

Ways to Increase Security

1. Bump Proof, Pick Proof Locks: These tamper-resistant locks can replace your existing locks to prevent thieves from defeating them. Since the standard, basic locks installed on so many homes are vulnerable to anyone with a lockpick or a bump key, it’s important to consider this upgrade.
2. Deadbolts: Deadbolts are a relatively inexpensive addition to your exterior entrances. They are usually paired with your current knob locks as an additional form of security. They prevent your door from being easily forced open, and come in several different varieties, including single-sided deadbolts and double-sided deadbolts.
3. Keyless Entry: If you want to do away with the hassle of dealing with keys that you can lose or have to struggle to find, consider replacing them with a higher form of security in keyless entry. Keyless entry can either involve keypad locks or fingerprint entry systems.
4. Safes: Safes are an excellent investment if you have valuable belongings stored in your home, especially if those belongings are small and easily grabbed. They can be installed by a locksmith in an inconspicuous place. There are safes that can be accessed by a keypad, a combination lock, or a traditional key.
5. Alarm Systems: Locksmiths can install alarm systems to alert you to an intruder breaching your home’s security. Along with traditional alarm systems that sound when your door or window has been compromised, locksmiths can also install intercom systems and access control systems.
6. Security Cameras: You may be surprised to know that locksmiths are also able to install CCTV systems. Often just the sight of a security camera is enough to make a criminal turn the other way and run.

Increasing the security of your home is a smart investment in both your family’s safety and the security of your belongings. You don’t want all of the things you’ve worked so hard to earn to disappear because some criminal exploited a vulnerability in your home’s protection.

You may be wondering where to start in regards to upgrading your property. A skilled locksmith who is trained in the latest in home security protection can help. If you live in the Tolleson, Arizona area, you can find that excellent locksmith service at Arizona Locksmith. Whatever upgrades to your security that you are considering, a locksmith is the right choice to give you the best information on your options.