Moving To A New Home – Security Measures To Take
Moving is an awesome experience for those seeking adventure and new opportunities. It is a chance for you to let go of the old and to embrace the future. For example, you can meet new friends and start new businesses in your new neighborhood. Unfortunately, moving can also be traumatic for other people because some individuals will take advantage of those who just moved into their neighborhood. Some of these individuals will even steal from you because they know you are still trying to settle down in your new surroundings. It is important for you to protect yourself and your family when you move into a new neighborhood. Thanks to our friends at Portland Locksmith Pros, here is how you can do it.
Change Your Locks Immediately
In 2012, the country’s security agencies reported that burglars broke into 2.1 million homes translating to about one burglary every 15 seconds. In most of these cases, burglars used the front door so changing your front door locks should be a priority. Remember, criminals may have an idea of what your lock looks like and that means they can defeat its locking mechanism. Moreover, you do not know who has the keys to the current locks on your door. For instance, the previous owner or someone he knows might have a spare key to your home. Are you okay with living in a home where someone you do not know has the key to your front door lock?
Invest In High Quality Locks
Changing your locks is a good idea and it might work well for you in the short term, but it is not a long-term solution. Criminals are likely to study your house for months before making their move so a changed lock might give you a false sense of security. Instead, you should invest in high quality locks so that burglars cannot succeed when they try to break into your home. Moving is expensive so you might not have the money to buy such locks today, but start budgeting for them so that you can secure your home completely. Remember, you should buy high quality locks for your front door, garage door, and windows among other openings into your home. You can also go for digital locks or highly specialized mechanical locks.
Exercise Caution When Hiring People
Moving into a new home is not an easy task. You have to fix any wiring problems, repair any broken locks, and deal with any plumbing issues. Doing all of these things may require expert help. For example, you may call an electrician, locksmith, or plumber depending on what kind of problem you are experiencing. You may also call a TV cable technician or someone to setup your internet connection if you are having challenges with your TV or internet. Some of these technicians may have criminal records or they may be associating themselves with criminals. Therefore, it is important for you to deal with reputable companies only especially when it comes to locksmith services.
Install Lights outside Your Home
Criminals love a dark environment because it allows them to operate undetected. In other words, they will take advantage of the darkness outside your home using it as a cover when they are coming to burglarize your home. You can stop them from doing so by installing security lights outside your home. If they see these security lights, they will run away and try their luck elsewhere. More importantly, a well-light environment outside your home means that you, your family members, and your neighbors can spot criminals quickly and easily. The person who spots them can alert the others and then call the police.
CCTV Cameras and Alarm Systems Are a Good Idea
Having CCTV cameras in and around your home allows you to deter crime and to catch the criminals if they commit a crime. Remember, most of the criminals who commit burglary operate within their own community so catching them on camera means someone in the neighborhood likely to recognize them. Videos caught by CCTV cameras also help the police and the community when it comes to understanding what tactics burglars use to break into homes. This understanding helps in the creation of additional security measures to counter the tactics adopted by burglars. Alarm systems are also important because they alert the police and your neighbors that something is amiss at your house. These alarms also scare off most criminals.
