Protecting your home from a possible break-in doesn't have to be complicated. Simply by changing a few habits and improving a few small elements of your home security solution, you can do a lot to reduce the risk of an intruder. 

Protect your spare keys

Getting locked out of your hose can be a nuisance, but many people respond to this problem by hiding a spare key in a flowerpot or under a doormat. These hiding places are well-known to burglars, making it simpler for a thief to gain entrance. To avoid giving a would-be intruder the opportunity, have a locksmith make extra copies of your keys. Instead of hiding them, leave copies with trusted friends or family members. If you ever find yourself locked out, call on one of them. It may take a little longer to get inside your home, but it will be much safer. 

Develop good key safety habits

Keeping track of your keys is an important part of keeping your home secure. Many people keep keys in a special place near their door so that they won't forget them as they leave the house. While this can be a useful reminder, it can be a security risk. If your keys are close to a window or door, they may present a tempting target for an intruder. To improve your security, make sure that the place where you keep your keys can't be seen from outside the building.

Improve visibility

Many burglaries are opportunistic and occur because a thief thinks they can force a door or window without being seen. Improving visibility around your home can help stop break-ins before they start. This could mean cutting back trees and shrubs that obscure a view of your doorway from the street, or it could mean installing better lighting. Motion-activated lighting can often be enough to make potential intruders think twice. Some locksmiths may supply motion-detecting lights that will help protect your home with a minimum of effort. 

Maintain security systems

Whether your home is protected by alarms and cameras or simply by locks and bolts, it's important that every part of your security solution is working correctly. If a lock is damaged or worn, it could fail at a critical time. Regular maintenance is the only way to avoid this problem. If you haven't performed maintenance on your home security lately, or if you're moving into a new building and don't know when its locks were last checked, arrange for a check-up with your locksmith to identify any vulnerabilities. 

No matter what kind of security your home has, you can improve its effectiveness by putting in a little extra effort. Working together with your locksmith, you can keep your home safer and reduce the risk of a break-in. Contact a locksmith for more information. 

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