Home security is vital to protecting you, your family, and your property. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that approximately 3.7 million burglaries occur each year. During a significant portion of those burglaries, the dwellings are occupied. Property crimes occur roughly once every four seconds. Crime occurs in all neighborhoods and areas, regardless of demographics and socioeconomics.
Precautions and protective measures need to be taken by all homeowners and your local licensed locksmith can help.
Here are five home security tips for 2020 that will help to keep you safe and give you peace of mind.
1. Replace and Upgrade Door Locks
Most burglars enter homes through the front door. An effective way to keep burglars out is to replace or upgrade your door locks. Door locks, like all things mechanical, do not last forever. Through normal use and wear and tear, your lock may no longer work properly. This is a huge vulnerability that burglars like to target and exploit for easy entrance into your home. Replacing your old, worn-out lock with a new lock (or, better yet, multiple locks) is your first line of defense.
2. Rekey Locks
If you don’t want to replace your locks, you can have them rekeyed by a locksmith. Perhaps you just bought a new house and you want to ensure that no one else has keys to your home. Or, maybe you’ve owned your home for years and have lost track of a few copies of your house key. Whatever the case may be, you want to be in control of who has the ability to unlock your doors. Rekeying is a simple option and a great way to boost your home security.
3. Install Window Locks
The best door locks in the world won’t help you if your first-floor (and, in some cases, second floor) windows aren’t protected. As the warm weather approaches, we sometimes leave our windows open to let the air circulate through the screen. Or, perhaps our windows do not lock properly. For a variety of reasons, windows are one of the most popular ways that burglars gain entry into houses. Regular window locks are easy enough for burglars to break with little effort. Installing reinforced secondary locks is a good way to prevent burglars from entering your home.
4. Invest in Garage Door Locks
Installing a manual garage door lock may seem like an inconvenience, but garages are yet another point of vulnerability. If, for example, you have a garage door opener in your car, and a burglar should break into your car, he or she now has access to your home. Protecting your garage with a Master Lock or even a deadbolt secures this vulnerability.
5. Lock Your Fence
Another easy way to upgrade your home security is to make sure your fence is securely locked. This means using a lock that cannot be breached with bolt cutters, a crowbar or other similar tools that burglars often carry. Installing a strong, reinforced, virtually unbreakable lock is an excellent way to lock your fence of gate, securing the perimeter of your home.
Conclusion: Comfort and Safety
No matter what kind of home security system you have, nothing changes the importance of having basic locks and keys that are in good working order. Periodically, everyone’s locks and keys need to be upgraded due to normal use. Securing your front door, rekeying your locks, installing window locks, locking your garage, and locking your fence are all important steps in protecting your home.
Action Locksmith has been keeping Michigan homes and businesses safe and up to date for over 30 years. We are a mobile locksmith service that does it all and are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. If you have an emergency, we’ll be there. Our locksmiths are professional and trained in residential, automotive, and commercial locksmith services.
Our vast experience and knowledge have made us a trusted and respected Michigan business. Call us to learn more about how we can help!