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It’s every resident’s nightmare. You pull in the driveway and find your door has been forced open or a window broken. You can barely process what’s happened, stressing about what’s been stolen and the harm done to your home. What should you do? Remain calm, take a deep breath, and follow our recommendations after a break-in at your Blacksburg home.  

Once the dust settles, learn 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 might be frightened, angry, or just in shock. Regardless, it’s essential to act rationally by doing the following: 

• Stay outside. It might be tempting to go inside to assess the situation. Don’t. There’s a risk a burglar is still there.
• Contact law enforcement immediately.  Keep yourself and others safely away and hold tight until first responders arrive. Work with law enforcement to file a report. 
• Leave everything as is. Let the police secure the premises and collect evidence.  

What Do You Do Next?

You’ve filed a report with the police, and it’s safe to go back inside. What are the next steps? 

• Cancel credit cards and alert your bank . If an intruder snagged wallets, purses, or sensitive information, you must contact your credit card companies and banks right away. It’s smart to freeze accounts and your credit. You can also add a fraud alert with the three main credit bureaus.
• Call your insurance provider. File a claim with your insurer. You should do so within a day of the incident. 
• Take photos of the damage. Document shattered windows, forced doors, and anything else that’s been damaged.
• Inventory stolen goods. Create a record of what’s missing and provide it to the police and your Insurer.
• Secure your property. Restore your home’s security by switching out locks, fixing windows and doors, and repairing other damage. If you have a keypad lock, now is the time to update your codes.

Cleaning up will bring you some peace and make things feel normal. After you do so, it’s time to start thinking enhancing your home security.

Evaluate And Upgrade The Security At Your Blacksburg Home

What should you do to prevent another burglary from taking place? Your first step should be to evaluate your home security. A new system with these devices will go a long way to strengthening your home’s protection: 

• Surveillance cameras: Almost all prowlers will think twice about breaking in when they observe surveillance cameras. Modern exterior and doorbell cameras offer advanced features like AI-powered smart detection. Any time there’s questionable activity, you’ll be sent an alert. 
• Access-point sensors: All doors and windows (especially those on the lower level) should be protected by contact or glass-break sensors.
• Smart locks and lighting: These automated components can be managed remotely. Are you worried you neglected to lock your door? You can check and operate the lock right from your smartphone. You can even have inside lights turn on if a camera spots suspicious activity.

If you are searching for an integrated system that alerts you and monitoring agents whenever a sensor or camera is set off, get a package from the home security leaders at ADT. You’ll benefit from smartphone access, 24/7 monitoring, and advanced automation.

Prevent Break-Ins With The Top Home Security Systems In Blacksburg

Stop intrusions from happening with an ADT home security system in Blacksburg from Secure24 Alarm Systems. As an authorized ADT dealer, we install advanced equipment from the industry leader. Learn more about your options by calling (540) 212-4532 or submitting our form today.