Even a well-secured home can prove tempting to thieves. Should a criminal attempt a break-in at your property, you can enlist the help of a locksmith to repair or replace locks. However, you must be aware of the common signs that your home has been the subject of tampering. Here are a few things to look for. 

How to Tell If Your Home Security Has Been Compromised

1. Lock Dysfunction

Unsuccessful lock picking techniques can still cause obvious damage to doors. For instance, you may notice that your door lock sticks or is hard to engage. If dysfunction occurs suddenly, the issue is unlikely to be related to wear. Instead, it may be caused by an attempted break-in, which means your locking mechanism should be fortified by a professional. 

2. Scratches on the Door

Even if your lock functions normally, there are other defects you can watch out for. Scratches on the door around the locking mechanism can indicate that a person attempted to enter your home without your permission, especially if the defects are new. It's important to take these signs seriously, as the criminal who attempted the intrusion may come back to finish the job at a later date. 

3. Bent Door Frames

Not all break-in attempts involve lock-picking. In some cases, a person may try to gain entry into your home by breaking the door down, which will lead to a different type of damage when compared to picking a lock. A brute force break-in attempt can result in bent door frames, broken wood, and other hard to ignore damage to your front door. 

Locksmiths perform many vital services, including installing a new locking mechanism when your home security has been compromised. A-1 Alabama Key & Locksmith provides this and other services to customers, including emergency assistance with lockouts. Call (205) 758-8000 today to get help from a locksmith in Tuscaloosa, AL. You can also visit the website for more great tips.