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It’s every family’s nightmare. You return home to see your door is wide open or a window broken. You can barely process what’s happened, stressing about what’s missing and the harm done to your house. What should you do? Take a breath, stay calm, and follow these tips after a break-in at your Buffalo home.  

When you’re ready, learn how to better prevent burglaries with a modern security system.

Initial Steps After A Break-In

Seeing your house broken into is traumatizing. You might be shaken, angry, or just in disbelief. Whatever the case, it’s important to act rationally by doing the following: 

• Do not enter. It might be tempting to run inside to see what happened. Don’t. There’s a chance someone is still inside.
• Contact law enforcement at once.  Keep yourself and others safely away and wait for first responders. Work with the authorities to make an official report. 
• Don’t touch a thing. Let the police secure the scene and gather evidence.  

What Are The Next Steps?

You’ve made an official report with law enforcement, and your home is clear to re-enter. What are the next steps? 

• Notify your bank and credit card issuers . If an intruder stole wallets, purses, or personal records, you must alert your credit card companies and banks at once. It’s a good idea to lock accounts and your credit. You can also request a fraud alert with the three main credit bureaus.
• Call your insurer. File a claim with your insurer. This should be done within one day of the incident. 
• Record damage on camera. Document smashed windows, kicked-in doors, and any other damage you discover.
• Inventory stolen goods. Create a record of what’s missing and provide it to the police and your insurance company.
• Secure your property. Make your home safe again by replacing locks, fixing windows and doors, and repairing other damage. If you utilize a keypad lock system, now is the time to update your access codes.

Tidying up will do wonders for your stress and restore a sense of normalcy. After you do so, it’s time to start thinking improving your home security.

Evaluate And Upgrade Your Buffalo Home’s Security

How can you keep this from occuring again? Your starting point should be to evaluate your home security. A new system with these devices will work wonders in strengthening your home’s protection: 

• Surveillance cameras: Just about all would-be burglars will think twice about breaking in when they notice video cameras. Today’s exterior and doorbell cameras provide advanced functionality like smart detection. When there’s questionable activity, you’ll be sent a notification. 
• 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 operated from anywhere. Worried you forgot to lock up? You can check and engage the lock from your smartphone. You can even have inside lighting go on if a camera discovers an unwanted guest.

If you are looking for an integrated system that alerts you and monitoring agents whenever a camera or sensor is set off, consider a package from the home security specialists at ADT. You’ll appreciate the mobile access, round-the-clock monitoring, and advanced automation.

Stop Break-Ins With The Top Home Security Systems In Buffalo

Stop break-ins from happening with an ADT home security system in Buffalo from Secure24 Alarm Systems. As your trusted ADT dealer, we install modern equipment from the most respected name in the business. Explore your options by calling (716) 219-8231 or completing our form today.