A Leading Locksmith Offers Tips on Preventing Home Theft

1. June 6, 2017 A Leading Locksmith Offers Tips on Preventing Home Theft Here’s something that will keep most homeowners up at night: a burglary takes place every 18 seconds in the country. In short, your home may very well be the next victim of a home theft, which can cost thousands upon thousands of dollars in losses. But don’t worry—there are many ways to outwit cunning thieves. Be careful what you let people see Bought a new 50-inch, 4K HDTV? That’s great! But did you leave the box out in your front lawn for trash pickup? Doing so tells burglars you have something valuable they can steal. Furthermore, they’ll also wonder what other pricey appliances you may have inside the home. Likewise, take a walk around your house and see if there are any valuable things that can be seen in plain sight through your windows. These can also act as an open invitation to thieves. pg. 1

2. Fake them out As you might expect, most home burglaries happen during the daytime when most residents are at work or school. Fortunately, you can trick burglars into thinking you are at home by leaving the lights on or by turning on the television. Want to further scare away would-be thieves? Stick a home security system sign in your yard. A burglar will have no way of knowing whether this is true, and they will much rather not risk it to be safe. Don’t announce that you’re gone Everyone deserves a good, long vacation at least once a year. However, these extended absences make your home extra vulnerable to thieves. What’s more, many vacationers commit the mistake of announcing they’ll be gone for a while. For instance, some will record a message for their answering machine telling callers that they’re on vacation. Similarly, those seemingly harmless vacation photos on social media are a clear announcement that your home is unoccupied. Remember, thieves are cunning—they will use any information available to target their next victim. Check those locks and doors This should seem like a no brainer, but many people still leave their doors and windows unlocked. Is it any wonder that 30% of burglars enter a home through unlocked doors and windows? Of course, locking these entrances is useless if your door jamb or window latches are failing. Like any part of your house, doors and windows are subject to wear and tear. Be sure to have a locksmith replace or repair locks as soon as they display signs of malfunctioning. Your home is your repository of your most valuable possessions—don’t let burglars victimize it! By following these simple tips, you protect yourself from the emotional and financial turmoil a home burglary might cause. After all, the best way to avoid a problem is to proactively prepare against it. About Eastway Lock & Key, Inc.: Eastway Lock & Key, Inc. is a leading locksmith firm based in Charlotte, NC. We work with both residential and commercial clients to ensure the safety of their premises at all times. Among the services we offer are lock installation and repair, door and window installation or repair, and alarm system installation. pg. 2

3. Sources: 10 Simple Ways to Discourage Break-ins, HowStuffWorks.com How to Prevent Home Burglary – 8 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Someone Breaking Into Your House, MoneyCrashers.com pg. 3