Your home is the place where you should feel the safest. The idea of discovering an intruder, or finding that your valuables have been stolen, is enough to worry anyone. Many people fail to realize that unauthorized access often occurs when someone uses a key to enter a home. In some circumstances, it makes sense to change the locks to stay safe.
After Moving
When you move into a new apartment, you should have the locks changed. Someone who used to live in your home could have kept a key. If the locks are unchanged, that person could walk right into your apartment and take off with your belongings. If you are renting a new apartment, ask the landlord if the locks were changed after the previous tenant moved out. In many cities and states, landlords are legally required to change the locks when a unit changes hands.
If you have bought a new house, the previous owners could still have keys. It is also possible that they gave keys to their friends, family members, or neighbors so those people could pick up mail, water plants, or take care of pets while the owners were away. You have no way of knowing if the previous owners or anyone else still has a key. Change the locks to be on the safe side.
After a Relationship Ends
If your relationship status has changed, either because of a divorce or a breakup with someone you were dating, you should change the locks. Even if you separated amicably, you never know if that person might decide to show up unannounced, either to talk or to do you harm. If your roommate moved out, or if you had a falling out with a family member or friend who has a key to your home, changing the locks can give you peace of mind.
After Losing Keys
If you or someone you live with has lost a key to your home, change the locks. If the key was lost somewhere in the neighborhood, a person could find the key and go from house to house or from apartment to apartment trying locks until finding the one where the key works. If you lost your key along with your identification that has your address, change the locks immediately.
Call a Locksmith
The locks on your doors are your first line of defense against intruders. In many cases, theft, vandalism, and violence occur because people gave keys to people they trusted and then circumstances changed, or because residents didn’t know who was given a key by someone else. If you recently moved, had a change in your living situation or relationship status, or lost your keys, play it safe and change the locks.
All American Locksmiths is available to help 24/7. If you are concerned about someone entering your house without your permission, call us today so we can change your locks and give you peace of mind.
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