ADT® Authorized Dealer Serving Dayton & Surrounding Areas
Couple assessing damage after a burglary
April 06, 2026

What To Do After A Break-in At Your Dayton Home?

It’s every homeowner’s nightmare. You return home to see your door has been kicked in or a window smashed. You can hardly process what’s happened, fretting about what’s been stolen and the harm done to your home. What will you do? Stay calm, take a breath, and follow our recommendations after a break-in at your Dayton home.  

Once things are under control, learn how to better prevent intrusions with the latest home security system.

Immediate Steps After A Burglary

Discovering your house has been broken into is traumatic. You could be upset, frightened, or just in shock. Whatever you’re feeling, it’s important to stay level-headed by doing the following: 

  • Don’t go inside. It’s not surprising that you want to run inside to look around. Don’t. There’s a possibility an intruder is still there.
  • Contact the authorities right away.  Keep yourself and family members safely away and hold tight until help get there. Work with the authorities to file a report. 
  • Don’t touch a thing. Let the police secure the area and collect evidence.  

What Should You Do Next?

You’ve spoken with the police, and it’s safe to go back inside. What should you do next? 

  • Alert your bank and credit card companies . If a burglar snagged personal records, purses, or wallets, you’ll wish to contact your credit card issuers and banks at once. It’s wise to freeze accounts and your credit. You might also request a fraud alert with credit bureaus.
  • Call your insurance provider. File a claim with your insurance company. You should do so within 24 hours of the break-in. 
  • Record damage on camera. Document shattered windows, kicked-in doors, and anything else that’s been damaged.
  • Document what is missing. Make a list of what’s missing and provide it to law enforcement and your insurance company.
  • Secure your property. Get your home secured by switching out locks, fixing doors and windows, and repairing other damage. If you have a digital lock, now is the time to reset your codes.

Cleaning up will help ease your mind and make things feel normal. Once you do, it’s time to consider upgrading your home security.

Strengthen The Security At Your Dayton Home

How can you prevent this from happening again? Your first step should be to assess your home security. A new system with these tools will go a long way to better protecting your home: 

  • Video cameras: Nearly all would-be burglars will think twice about breaking in when they notice video cameras. Newer outdoor and doorbell cameras offer advanced capabilities like AI-powered smart detection. Any time there’s suspicious activity, you’ll be sent an alert. 
  • Entry-point sensors: All doors and windows (specifically those on the ground floor) should be safeguarded by glass-break or contact sensors.
  • Smart lights and locks: These automated tools can be operated from anywhere. Worried you didn’t secure your door? You can verify and operate the lock from your smartphone. You can even have inside lights switch on if a camera discovers someone lurking.

If you want a connected system that alerts you and monitoring representatives any time a sensor or camera is triggered, get a package from ADT, your home security professionals. You’ll benefit from mobile access, round-the-clock monitoring, and advanced automation.

Stop Break-Ins With The Top Home Security Systems In Dayton

Stop intrusions at your property with an ADT home security package in Dayton from Secure24 Alarm Systems. As your authorized ADT dealer, we install the latest equipment from the top name in the business. Explore your options by dialing (937) 230-5750 or submitting our form today.

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