To give you ultimate peace of mind and ensure your house is secure, follow this checklist to check the most vulnerable and overlooked areas of home security.

Yard/Lawn

First, we’ll look at your lawn. You might not think there is anything you can do to improve your home’s security from your lawn, but you’d be surprised. Lawns that aren’t maintained properly are a signal to thieves that no one may be inhabiting the property. (Or, that you’ve gone on vacation and forgot to take care of it.) Another security/safety issue related to your yard is that overgrown bushes or excess foliage can impede paths and prevent residents from escaping or emergency personnel from responding. (They’re great hiding spots for thieves as well.)

Lighting

Next, do you have proper lighting around your home? Criminals love working in the dark, where they won’t attract curious eyes or be seen by surveillance cameras. Fix this by ensuring there is lots of light around your doors, windows and garage. Also, burglars look for security systems when scouting a property, so make sure your system is well-lit and place signs from your security monitoring company in your front and backyard.

Access Points

Lock the door and it will make it more difficult for a thief to enter your home. Add a deadbolt lock and you further increase the difficulty. Add another reinforced lock or stopper on the inside and it will be a pretty tough task for someone to gain access to your home through the well-secured door. Whether it’s doors or windows, check for weather stripping, gaps and lack of structural integrity. Adding an alarm to windows and a doorbell camera to the front of the house is another way to improve security for access points. 

Key Access

Finally, who has access to your keys? If your spare key is in a fake rock that’s easy to identify, everyone will. Be smart about where you keep extra keys and get to know your neighbors so they can help you with key access if needed. Finally, whether you have a spare key with a friend, family member, neighbor or in a hidden location, make sure you know where all copies of them are at all times. (If you don’t, it might be time to rekey your home.)

If you’re interested in additional security tips for your home, contact A-1 Locksmith today at (972) 284-7500.

“What is a sliding glass door, Alex?” Ding ding!

You might think sliding glass doors are just as secure as any other entry point in your home, but they’re actually one of the most vulnerable. We discuss why this is the case and the steps you can take to address it.

Why Sliding Glass Doors Are Vulnerable

Of course, when you leave a door or window unlocked, that’s when your home is most vulnerable. But otherwise, sliding glass doors are one of the main culprits. According to a survey from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), only 34% of burglars enter a home through the front door. You would think that number would be higher since it’s the main point of entry, right? Well, 81% of burglars still enter a home through the first floor; they just choose the most vulnerable spot instead.

Sliding glass doors are vulnerable because of a variety of reasons. For one, they’re smashable. But their locks can also easily be opened. These types of doors can also be lifted off their tracks — even without tools. If the thief does have a tool (like a screwdriver), it makes the job even easier.

How To Improve the Security of Your Home

So, what can you do about the vulnerabilities of sliding glass doors? You basically have two options: do it yourself or call a residential locksmith. Here’s a little more about each of these options:

• DIY: One MacGuyver-like way you can improve the security of these doors is to jam the track from opening by putting something like a wood dowel on it. Or, you could purchase a door lock or sliding bolt and install it. The former will likely only slow the criminal down, while the latter may not work if you don’t do it right. This might be the cheaper option, but is it worth it?
• Residential locksmith: A professional locksmith, on the other hand, can identify the door’s weaknesses, give you an expert’s opinion on solutions and install any needed security upgrades. For example, the locksmith might suggest putting in some type of alarm system. Or, they could replace the standard factory locks in the door with premium, high-security locks. This option may be a little more expensive, but it will go a long way toward keeping your home safe.

If you’d like help improving the security of your home, give the A-1 Locksmith team a call today at 972-284-7500.

But while these are smart actions to take to keep the house secure, they may not be enough today, especially with the rapid advances in technology over the past few years. Instead, consider these few ideas to keep on your security checklist that will help you protect your home throughout this year.

Turn Off All Cameras in the House

Do you have a camera in your home that you use to view the kids while they’re playing in their room? While this may help you keep watch on the little ones during playtime, it may, in fact, leave your home vulnerable. To be sure, a January 2017 article published in Ars Technica asserts that webcam feeds using the Real Time Streaming Protocol may be viewed by online users, as long as no password authentication is in place. Make sure to create a password for the camera feed, and turn it off until you do so.

Don’t Tell Social Media You’re Leaving on Vacation

You may be ecstatic that you’re about to spend the next few weeks on the beach with your family. But in all of your excitement, make sure to avoid posting this information to your social media pages. By informing the public that you will be out of the house for a period of time, you are ultimately broadcasting to the world that your home may be uninhabited and vulnerable. If you must tell your friends online, however, make sure that the post is only viewable by those with whom you have chosen to connect.

Install a Security System

Finally, gone are the days when a simple lock and key are enough to keep your home safe and sound. Instead, if you wish to keep your house secure, it is in your best interests to install a security system with the help of A-1 Locksmith in Dallas. Our various security systems come complete with intercoms, video surveillance, alarms, and more to help give you peace of mind wherever you may be.

Don’t wait any longer to protect your home. Contact A-1 Locksmith today and let us provide you with the security you need. We can even provide a security audit for your business and consultation on measures to protect your home or business.