Categories

It’s every resident’s nightmare. You pull in the driveway and find your door has been forced open or a window smashed. You can hardly process what’s happened, fretting about what’s been taken and the harm done to your house. What should you do? Stay calm, take a breath, and follow these steps after a break-in at your Minneapolis home.  

When things calm down, see how to better prevent break-ins with an advanced security system.

Immediate Steps After A Break-In

Discovering your house has been broken into is traumatizing. You may be scared, upset, or just in shock. Regardless, it’s essential to act rationally by doing the following: 

• Stay outside. It could be tempting to run inside to assess the situation. Don’t. There’s a chance an intruder is still there.
• Call the authorities immediately.  Keep yourself and family members at a safe distance and wait until first responders arrive. Work with law enforcement 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 authorities, and your home is clear to re-enter. What should happen next? 

• Cancel credit cards and call banks . If a burglar stole purses, wallets, or personal records, you must notify your credit card companies and banks at once. It’s smart to lock accounts and your credit. You may also request a fraud alert with the major credit bureaus.
• Contact your insurance provider. Start the claims process with your insurance company. You should do so within one day of the break-in. 
• Take pictures of damage. Document smashed windows, forced doors, and all other obvious damage.
• Document what was taken. Create a record of what’s been stolen and provide it to law enforcement 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 utilize a digital lock, now is the time to update your codes.

Getting your home back in order will help ease your mind and make things feel normal. After you’re done, it’s time to think about upgrading your home security.

Assess And Improve The Security At Your Minneapolis Home

How can you keep this from happening again? Your first step should be to assess your home’s security. A new system with the following equipment will go a long way to strengthening your home’s protection: 

• Security cameras: Nearly all trespassers will think twice about breaking in when they notice surveillance cameras. Newer outdoor and doorbell cameras provide advanced capabilities like AI-driven smart detection. Any time there’s suspicious activity, you’ll receive a warning. 
• Entry-point sensors: All doors and windows (specifically those on the ground level) should be protected by glass-break or contact sensors.
• Smart locks and lights: These automated devices can be controlled from anywhere. Worried you forgot to secure your door? You can check and operate the lock right from your mobile device. You can even have inside lights turn on if a camera spots someone lurking.

If you want an integrated system that alerts you and monitoring staff whenever a sensor or camera is triggered, look into a package from ADT, your home security experts. You’ll appreciate the remote access, round-the-clock monitoring, and convenient automation.

Prevent Break-Ins With The Leading Home Security Systems In Minneapolis

Stop burglaries at your property with an ADT home security system in Minneapolis from Secure24 Alarm Systems. As an authorized ADT dealer, we install modern equipment from the most respected name in the business. Discover your options by reaching out to (612) 314-0605 or completing our form today.