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It’s every family’s nightmare. You return home and find your door has been forced open or a window smashed. You can hardly process what’s happened, worrying about what’s missing and the harm done to your property. What will you do? Stay calm, take a breath, and follow our recommendations after a break-in at your Kingsport home.  

When things get back to normal, learn how to better prevent intrusions with a modern security system.

Initial Steps After A Burglary

Discovering your house has been broken into is traumatizing. You may be angry, frightened, or just in disbelief. Regardless, it’s essential to respond rationally by doing the following: 

• Don’t go inside. It may be tempting to run inside to look around. Don’t. There’s a chance someone is still inside.
• Call the authorities immediately.  Keep yourself and others at a safe distance and wait for first responders. Work with the authorities to file a report. 
• Don’t touch a thing. Let the police secure the area and do their job.  

What Should You Do Next?

You’ve completed a report with the police, and it’s safe to go back inside. What should you do next? 

• Notify your bank and credit card issuers . If a burglar grabbed wallets, purses, or sensitive information, you must contact your credit card companies and banks right away. It’s smart to lock accounts and your credit. You may also place a fraud alert with credit bureaus.
• Reach out to your insurance provider. Initiate a claim with your insurance provider. You should do so within one day of the burglary. 
• Record damage on camera. Document broken windows, forced doors, and anything else that’s been damaged.
• Document what is missing. Make a list of what’s been stolen and provide it to the authorities and your Insurer.
• Secure your home. Make your home safe again by replacing locks, fixing doors and windows, and addressing remaining damage. If you have a keypad lock system, now is the time to update your codes.

Getting your home back in order will bring you some peace and restore a sense of normalcy. After you do so, it’s time to start thinking enhancing your home security.

Strengthen Your Kingsport Home’s Security

What can you do to prevent another break-in from occurring? Your starting point should be to assess your home’s security. A new system with these devices will go a long way to strengthening your home’s protection: 

• Video cameras: Nearly all trespassers will hesitate when they notice surveillance cameras. Newer outdoor and doorbell cameras offer advanced features like AI-powered smart detection. When there’s suspicious activity, you’ll receive an alert. 
• Access-point sensors: All doors and windows (specifically those on the ground floor) should be safeguarded by glass-break or contact sensors.
• Smart locks and lighting: These automated components can be operated from anywhere. Worried you didn’t secure your door? You can confirm and activate the lock right from your mobile device. You can even have inside lighting go on if a camera discovers someone lurking.

If you are searching for an integrated system that alerts you and monitoring agents any time a camera or sensor is set off, consider a package from ADT, your home security experts. You’ll benefit from remote access, 24/7 monitoring, and custom automation.

Prevent Break-Ins With The Best Home Security In Kingsport

Stop burglaries at your property with an ADT home security system in Kingsport from Secure24 Alarm Systems. As an authorized ADT dealer, we install the latest equipment from the top name in the business. Learn more about your options by calling (423) 241-8746 or completing our form today.