home burglar

Did Someone Break Into Your House? Here’s How to Bounce Back

If someone just broke into your home, then you’re probably dealing with a whirl of different emotions. It’s normal to feel confused, sad, or angry. After all, someone just made your home feel unsafe.

Don’t Blame Yourself

Before you do anything, remember that it’s not your fault. It’s also not your spouse’s fault, your son’s fault, your father’s fault, or your friend’s fault. There’s only one person to blame: the intruder. Life is full of ups and downs, and when you experience a low like this, it is possible to recover stronger than ever before. Once you’ve accepted this, it’s time to pick up the pieces and take steps to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.

Don’t Touch Anything—Call The Police First

While it can be tempting to start cleaning up, it’s best to call the authorities first. Before they arrive, scan your home for any missing items, and record what you find (or don’t find) on an itemized list. Once you’ve noted what items are missing, write down everything as you remember it:

  • Were you home when the incident occurred?
  • If not, what time did you arrive?
  • Retrace your steps from the day/night before
  • Can you identify the break-in point?

Recording this information will help you get your bearings straight, and it will help the police understand the situation better. All of these items will be placed on a police report, so it’s important to be as detailed as possible. If you do discover that specific valuables are missing from your home, including their approximate value on your itemized list.

Call Your Insurance Company

After the police report has been properly documented, file a claim with your insurance company. Regardless of whether you have homeowners or renters insurance, your policy should offer at least some kind of reimbursement for items that were stolen; however, before your insurance company can release funds to you, they must first send an adjuster to perform their own inspection. Even with the police report at your disposal, the insurance adjuster must still determine if the recorded information is accurate.

If your insurance company does send an adjuster to assess the situation, they may ask that you refrain from touching anything until their investigation is complete. Depending on your policy coverages, you may have the option of staying in a hotel for the duration of their visit. This benefit varies by carrier and plan, so be sure to ask your insurance company if this is an available option for you.

3 Ways To Keep Robbers Out

Once you’ve documented everything, filed an insurance claim, and cleaned up any damages, it’s important to improve your home’s security. To make your home safer, follow these tips.

  1. Install Deadbolt Locks

    Deadbolt locks are thicker and tougher than a traditional latch; therefore, deadbolts are harder for a burglar to pick, and would be a viable solution. If you’re in need of an emergency locksmith, then give us a call. All American locksmiths will help you choose and install the locks that fit your needs.

  1.  Security Cameras, Automated Lights, & Beware of Dog Signs

    Most people know how effective security alarm systems can be. If a full-service security system does not work with your current budget, then you should still install a security camera. These can be relatively inexpensive and can be placed in a high position. The sight of a security camera can help scare away would-be intruders.

    Automated lights can also help to deter robbers. Most break-ins occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Why? Because intruders assume that most people are at work during that time, which is probably accurate. Automated lights help to create the illusion that you are home.

    Even if you don’t have a dog, many burglars will think twice about breaking in if they see a “beware of dog” sign.

  1. Be Vigilant

    Even though most break-ins do happen during normal business hours, attempts are still made at night, or in the wee hours of the morning. If you do hear sounds of an intruder, then call the police as quickly and quietly as possible. Many robbers are cowards. While we do not advise confronting them yourself, it is a good idea to keep a baseball bat in your bedroom just in case you do need to defend yourself.

    Television actor William Daniels, best known for his roles in “Boy Meets World,” “St. Elsewhere” and “Knight Rider,” recently foiled an attempted burglary at his Los Angeles home. The 91-year old scared the intruder away when he turned the kitchen light on. Daniels proves that vigilance definitely pays off!

Apartment door locked

What to Do about Lost Apartment Keys

It’s a frustrating situation: you arrive home and realize that your apartment key is missing. Don’t panic. Depending on the situation, you might have several options.

What to Do If You Are Locked out

The first thing you should do is to retrace your steps. If you drove yourself home, your apartment key might have slipped off your keyring in the car or in the driveway or parking lot.

If you can’t locate your key, you will need to find a way to get into your apartment. If there is an unlocked window that you can climb in safely, you can do that, but don’t try to force the door or a window open. You would almost certainly cause damage, and you would need to pay for repairs.

If you live with someone else, get in touch with that person. If he or she is nearby or will be home soon, you can wait to be let in.

If you live alone, or if a person you live with cannot come home and let you in anytime soon, get in touch with your landlord or management company. If there are on-site staff and you are locked out during business hours, someone should be able to let you in. Depending on your landlord’s policy, an employee might let you into your apartment after business hours. Many landlords and management companies charge fees for this service.

Unable to find someone that can let you into your apartment? You will need to call a reputable, professional locksmith.

All American Locksmiths is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help if you accidentally lock yourself out of your home. If you get stuck, give us a call!

Depending on the terms of your lease, your landlord might require you to pay to have the locks rekeyed if you lose your key. Even if the lease does not require this, it might still be a good idea, especially if your wallet was lost or stolen and your identification with your address was inside.

How to Avoid Getting Locked out

Prepare for the possibility that you might accidentally lock yourself out of your apartment. If you have a close friend or relative who lives nearby, you can give that person a copy of your apartment key for emergencies. Only give a key to someone you know well and trust.

Another option is to hide a spare key near your apartment. Avoid obvious places, such as under the doormat or inside the mailbox. Choose a place where a thief would not immediately look and where the key would not be easily seen. A hole in a tree, a stone wall, and a dense bush are good hiding places.

Be Prepared

Getting locked out is a major inconvenience. Depending on your landlord’s policies, it could also cost a lot of money. You will likely lock yourself out at least once. Know what to do so you can get back into your home as quickly as possible.

RED DOOR LOCK

Should You Clean Your Door Locks?

When a key is not being used, it can accumulate dirt and dust from the environment and oil from the owner’s fingers. When the key is then inserted into the lock, that grime can be transferred to the lock’s internal components. Over time, the contamination build-ups and you’re left with a door that is difficult to lock or unlock.

If you are having trouble making your key turn in the lock, it could be because the lock’s internal components are dirty.

Before you spend money, you might want to try to take care of the issue yourself. Cleaning your locks on a regular basis can even prevent problems in the first place. Here are some tips.

How to Clean a Lock

It is generally best not to use a liquid oil lubricant on a door lock. Spraying this type of product inside a lock could actually cause it to attract more dirt and dust, which could cause it to stick more. If you are locked out of your house and don’t have any other options, an oil lubricant can make the lock turn so you can get in, but you should not use one if you can avoid it.

Calling a professional locksmith service you trust is also a terrific option to gaining access when you’re in a pinch. 

Dry graphite is another solution for a sticky door lock. It can lubricate the internal parts and make it easier to lock and unlock the door. Since it is dry, graphite will not cause dirt and dust to stick to it and accumulate inside the lock.

If you are handy around the house, you might even be able to take your lock apart and clean it. Remove the cover and outer parts but leave the lock in place. Place a rag or some newspaper on the floor to catch anything that falls out of the lock, and then spray a cleaner into the lock to remove any dirt and grime. Wipe the lock with a clean, dry cloth to remove the cleaner and any dirt that is left. Next, apply a graphite lubricant and replace the pieces of the lock that you removed. Test the lock to make sure it is easy to turn a key.

Other Problems

If you have already tried cleaning your lock but you are still having trouble turning a key, there is another issue that could be causing the problem. Perhaps the door is not aligned correctly, or maybe the pins inside the lock have become misaligned. Those problems will require help from a locksmith as the repairs will require tools and skills that the average homeowner does not possess.

If your door lock is hard to open and if cleaning it yourself has not solved the problem, call All American Locksmiths. We have a team of professional locksmiths who are available 24/7 to help with any lock-related issues you may encounter. We can diagnose the problem with your lock and make any needed repairs so that you will never again need to worry about being locked out of your house.

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