Any home owner or property manager knows that your property is easily considered one of the most valuable things you own. For homeowners, your home protects your valuables, personal information, and family. In the same token, property managers do their utmost to protect their tenants, employees, and business assets. That being said, it’s no surprise that a single break-in can cause significant damage to your property, and the things it protects. As such, occupants must do their utmost to ensure that they are properly protected, so as to prevent any possible risk of theft. With that in mind, here are a few of the best practices you can keep in mind to secure your home or business.
Top Security Measures
Assess Your Vulnerabilities
Before anything, it’s imperative that you identify any potential vulnerabilities. There can be any number of weaknesses on your site, including entry points, lighting, or even landscaping. As such, take a second to assess these weak points, and even existing security measures as well. In doing so, you can develop a tailored plan to help protect your place.
Invest in Quality Locks
Whether you’re a homeowner or a property manager, investing in high-quality locks and deadbolts may be one of the best things you can do for your property. After all, these are often the first line of defense against potential intruders. As such, consider investing in reliable locks from reputable manufacturers. Some homeowners like to take it a step further and invest in smart locks — which each individual should weigh the pros and cons of. For property managers, consider rekeying your properties every time a tenant leaves, so as to ensure that your new tenants are protected. Our team of Arizona locksmiths can help with those needs, so feel free to click the button below if you’re finding yourself in need of rekeying.
Reinforce Doors and Windows
Did you know that, according to a study, about 50% of the time, burglars use open doors or windows to enter the home? Think about it: by reinforcing those two entry points, you can drastically reduce the security risk to your property. Consider reinforcing doors and windows with measures such as shatterproof glass, security film, and solid core or metal doors. It’s also important to note that it’s a good idea to install window locks, if you don’t have them already, or even security bars or grilles for added protection. Our team of locksmiths at Phoenix EZ-Keys makes sure to scan the house for any potential security threats when rekeying a property, and so we can help alert you to some of these threats. For businesses who are looking to upgrade their doors or windows, commercial-grade security doors are a solid investment to consider.
Install an Alarm System
Having an alarm system is a phenomenal deterrent to add to your security measures. A study conducted by Dr. Joseph B. Kuhns of the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte found that alarm systems can serve as a strong deterrent. His study found that around 83% of burglars check to see if a property has a security alarm. Furthermore, 60% of those interviewed claimed that they would look for another property if an alarm was discovered. As such, whether you own a home or a business, alarm systems can be a valuable form of protection. Many organizations provide a variety of features to choose from, including intrusion detection, fire alarms, and surveillance cameras. As such, be sure to choose a product that is most conducive to your home, or business’ needs.
Safeguard Your Business Documents
Protecting sensitive documents is imperative for a business. As such, consider investing in secure filing cabinets, safes and other security measures to store important paperwork, data, or other valuables. This can also be applied to homeowners, as it’s been found that the majority of thieves will go for items that are easy to pocket. Storing jewelry, wallets, and other valuables will go a long way.
Access Control Systems
Access control systems, such as keyless entry systems, access cards, or biometric recognition restrict access to authorized personnel only. As having the ability to manage who enters your property or business is crucial, these systems are a noteworthy safety feature. While this is a feature that can be utilized by anyone, this is especially crucial for businesses with multiple employees and different access levels.
Adequate Lighting
It’s surprising, but yes! Having decent lighting can have an impact on the likelihood of your property being targeted. Well lit driveways, entry points, and pathways can serve as a major deterrent to any unwanted guests. It’s also a good idea to consider adding motion-activated lights to your repertoire. In doing so, you can surprise potential trespassers, and save energy when lights are not needed.
More Secure Measures
Naturally, there are a plethora of other security measures you can and should consider adding to your property or business. However, for the sake of your time, we’ve decided to elaborate on the ones we felt were most important. If you are looking for further ways to improve your security, here are some honorable mentions:
Secure Your Network
Surveillance Cameras
Security Personnel
Employee Training
Secure Remote Work
Secure Your Home’s Perimeter
Neighborhood Watch Programs
Emergency Response Plans
Regular Maintenance
Insurance Coverage
Just like with anything in life, the more you understand something, the more you can appreciate it. Professional locksmiths can help to play a valuable role, and safeguard the things we hold most dear. However, it’s important to note what exactly they can and can’t do, so that you can properly educate yourself on whether a locksmith is right for you. If you find yourself in need of locksmith services, feel free to book an appointment below, or contact us today for more information!