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It’s every homeowner’s nightmare. You pull in the driveway to see your front door is wide open or a window broken. You can’t think clearly, stressing about what’s been stolen and the harm done to your home. What will you do? Remain calm, take a deep breath, and follow our recommendations after a break-in at your Toledo home.  

When you’re ready, explore how to better prevent break-ins with the latest home security system.

First Steps After A Break-In

Seeing your house broken into is traumatizing. You could be frightened, angry, or simply in shock. Whatever the case, it’s essential to act rationally by doing the following: 

• Do not enter. It could be tempting to run inside to see what happened. Don’t. There’s a chance an intruder is still inside.
• Call law enforcement right away.  Keep yourself and family members at a safe spot nearby and hold tight until help arrives. Work with the authorities to make an official report. 
• Avoid touching anything. Allow officers take control and do their job.  

What Should You Do Next?

You’ve spoken with the police, and your home is clear to re-enter. What should happen next? 

• Contact your bank and credit card companies . If an intruder grabbed personal documents, purses, or wallets, you’ll wish to alert your credit card companies and banks at once. It’s a good idea to lock accounts and your credit. You might also place a fraud alert with credit bureaus.
• Contact your insurance company. File a claim with your insurance company. This needs to be done within one day of the break-in. 
• Take pictures of damage. Document broken windows, forced doors, and anything else that’s been damaged.
• Document what was taken. Write down what’s been stolen and provide it to the police and your insurance provider.
• Secure your property. Restore your home’s security by switching out locks, fixing doors and windows, and repairing other damage. If you use a keypad lock, now is the time to change your access codes.

Tidying up will do wonders for your stress and restore a sense of normalcy. After you’re done, it’s time to think about improving your home security.

Assess And Improve The Security At Your Toledo Home

What should you do to prevent another burglary from happening? Your first step should be to assess your home’s security. A new system with the following equipment will go a long way to better protecting your home: 

• Security cameras: Nearly all would-be burglars will think twice about breaking in when they see surveillance cameras. Newer outdoor and doorbell cameras give you advanced features like smart detection. Any time there’s unusual activity, you’ll get an alert. 
• Entry-point sensors: All doors and windows (especially those on the lower level) should be shielded by contact or glass-break sensors.
• Smart locks and lights: These automated devices can be controlled from anywhere. Concerned you didn’t lock your door? You can check and engage the lock right from your phone. You can even have inside lighting switch on if a camera discovers suspicious activity.

If you are looking for a connected system that warns you and monitoring representatives whenever a sensor or camera is set off, get a package from ADT, your home security leaders. You’ll benefit from smartphone access, 24/7 monitoring, and advanced automation.

Avoid Break-Ins With The Leading Home Security Systems In Toledo

Stop burglaries from happening with an ADT home security package in Toledo from Secure24 Alarm Systems. As your trusted ADT dealer, we install advanced equipment from the most respected name in the business. Explore your options by calling (419) 359-8479 or completing our form today.