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It’s every resident’s nightmare. You arrive home and find your front door has been forced open or a window shattered. You can’t think straight, worrying about what’s been stolen and the damage to your home. What should you do? Remain calm, take a deep breath, and follow these tips after a break-in at your Fort Collins home.  

When you’re ready, see how to better prevent intrusions with the latest home security system.

Immediate Steps After A Break-In

Discovering your house has been burglarized is unsettling. You might be frightened, upset, or simply in disbelief. Regardless, it’s important to stay level-headed by doing the following: 

• Do not enter. It’s not surprising that you want to run inside to look around. Don’t. There’s a risk someone is still present.
• Call the authorities immediately.  Keep yourself and loved ones safely away and wait until help gets there. Work with the police to file a report. 
• Leave everything as is. Let the police secure the area and gather evidence.  

What Do You Do Next?

You’ve completed a report with law enforcement, and your home is clear to re-enter. What should you do next? 

• Alert your bank and credit card issuers . If an intruder snagged wallets, purses, or personal records, you must contact your credit card issuers and banks immediately. It’s smart to freeze accounts and your credit. You might also request a fraud alert with the three main credit bureaus.
• Reach out to your insurance provider. Start the claims process with your insurance provider. This needs to be done within 24 hours of the burglary. 
• Take photos of the damage. Document smashed windows, kicked-in doors, and all other detectable damage.
• Document what is missing. Make a list of what’s been stolen and provide it to the police and your insurance company.
• Secure your property. Make your home safe again by switching out locks, fixing doors and windows, and addressing remaining damage. If you have a keypad lock system, now is the time to change your access codes.

Tidying up will help ease your mind and make things feel normal. After you do so, it’s time to start thinking improving your home security.

Assess And Improve The Security At Your Fort Collins Home

What should you do to prevent another break-in from occurring? Your initial step should be to evaluate your home’s security. A new system with the following equipment will work wonders in better protecting your home: 

• Surveillance cameras: Nearly all trespassers will reconsider their plans when they see surveillance cameras. Newer outdoor and doorbell cameras offer advanced functionality like AI-driven smart detection. Any time there’s suspicious activity, you’ll be sent a notification. 
• Access-point sensors: All doors and windows (especially those on the lower level) should be safeguarded by contact or glass-break sensors.
• Smart lights and locks: These automated tools can be controlled from anywhere. Concerned you didn’t lock your door? You can confirm and operate the lock right from your phone. You can even have interior lights turn on if a camera discovers suspicious activity.

If you want a modern system that alerts you and monitoring agents whenever a sensor or camera is set off, consider a package from ADT, your home security experts. You’ll appreciate the smartphone access, 24-hour monitoring, and advanced automation.

Avoid Break-Ins With The Best Home Security In Fort Collins

Stop break-ins at your property with an ADT home security package in Fort Collins from Secure24 Alarm Systems. As an authorized ADT dealer, we install the latest equipment from the industry leader. Learn more about your options by dialing (970) 316-5674 or submitting our form today.