Keeping your home or business safe from potential intruders should be a top priority. The good news is that there are some simple steps any property owner can take to help minimize their chances of becoming a victim of a burglary.
Here are just a few tips from our Los Angeles locksmiths for you to take into consideration:
- Key control: What steps do you take to limit key distribution? Keys should be given out on an as-needed basis for the building, for specific parts of the building, for safes and for vehicles. You should also have an in-depth tracking system in place so you can constantly keep tabs on who has been entrusted with keys for your office. If you have a system in which you can’t be certain who all has keys, then it’s going to be very hard for you to ensure you’re always secure.
- Duplication: To help prevent employees from going out and getting copies made of keys, you should have the words “do not duplicate” stamped onto all of the keys you distribute. Then, if your employees take the stamped keys in to get them duplicated, the workers there will know not to go through with the order.
- Address: You should have your business’s address and name clearly visible from the street, and in large, reflectorized numbers. Larger buildings should also use large, reflectorized numbers on their roof to ensure high visibility if police helicopter patrols are in the area.
- Gates: If gates aren’t in use, they should be closed and locked up with padlocks and chains. If you have any electronic gates, alarms, two-way communication devices, electric-eye gate openers or closed-circuit television systems, you should make sure you have multiple people trained in their use and have someone constantly assigned to surveillance.
- Landscaping: Burglars will have a harder time concealing themselves if you keep up with your landscaping. Keep all shrubs and grass trimmed and keep debris away from your property.
- Install alarm systems: Alarm systems will go off as soon as unauthorized persons enter your property. At the sound of an alarm, a would-be burglar will almost always flee immediately. You should also be sure to include signs on your property indicating it is under surveillance. In many cases, these signs themselves act as a strong deterrent.
- Prevent roof access: Prevent burglars from gaining access to your roof or windows by storing away boxes, pallets, ladders and crates away from your building in a secure area.
- Establish strong systems and procedures: Make sure your employees are completely familiar with your security systems and procedures. Employees who have a thorough understanding of security protocols will be able to take the lead in protecting your business.
- Have a home plan: For residential security, make sure everyone at your home knows what to do in the event of a possible burglary, including calling 911, finding a hiding place and operating the security system. Additionally, if you’ve recently moved into a new home, installing new locks and making other security upgrades can be a big help.
For more information about how you can improve your home’s or business’s security, contact the Los Angeles locksmiths at Locksmithology, Inc. today.