Ensuring the security of your home and the safety of your loved ones is necessary for a happy, comfortable and safe family life. It is vital that you keep your home protected from burglaries and other home invasions. Good home security requires planning and execution of effective security measures. Below, First Lock & Security Technologies outlines some of the most common threats to consider when designing your home security strategy.
Are Locked Doors a Deterrent for Burglars?
It is understandable that many homeowners are concerned about unauthorized entry into their home. Most often there is a concern about how easy locks are to pick, but this is not the primary way a burglar will attempt to gain entry. Simply checking to see if the front door is locked, is how criminals typically begin. Often burglars pose as door to door salesmen and commit their burglaries during the day when people are away from the home. A perpetrator will knock on the door and/or ring the doorbell to check if anyone is home or a dog starts barking. If there is no response, they then try to turn the door knob. If it turns, they will then walk right in. As criminals tend to take the path of least resistance, it is vital to always lock your doors.
Which Doors are Most Break-Ins Through?
As mentioned above, criminals most often begin by checking to see if your front door is locked. When it is, the next step for a burglar is to force their way in. This will always be an attempt to gain entry as quickly as possible. Often the criminal will try to pry or kick the door in, which is easy to do in most homes. First Lock & Security Technologies advises replacing the standard strike plate with a thick reinforcer with longer 3-inch screws to reinforce the door frame.
Double Sided Deadbolts are Not Safe
A seemingly viable solution for doors having glass panels within reach of the lock, is to install a double cylinder deadbolt, which is operated by a key on both sides. The key will be needed to lock or unlock the door from either side. While this does prevent a criminal from smashing the glass, reaching in, and unlocking the door, a double sided deadbolt also creates an emergency hazard for anyone inside the structure. These doors cannot be opened quickly, and any lock that must be opened with a key in an emergency situation is dangerous. In most cases this is a violation of building codes.
Should You Change Your Locks if You Lose Your Key?
Every key to your home should be known and accounted for. In the event you lose your house key or it is stolen, you do not know who has the key or when they could use it to gain entry into your home. Also, when you entrust someone with a spare key to your home, it is feasible that they made more copies before they returned it to you. Beyond family, friends and neighbors you gave a spare key to, you should also consider past home owners and tenants, home improvement contractors and anyone else who had a key, even for just a short time. Even if you truly believe you can account for all copies of your house keys, it is a good idea to rekey them regularly just to be safe.
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Knowing the different security concerns listed above, now is the time to check that you are protected. This may mean investing in higher security locks. Think about what might harm your property, and take steps to ensure your love ones are protected. If you need to upgrade your home security, call First Lock & Security Technologies. Our locksmith technicians are fast, efficient, and experienced in security evaluation and lock upgrades.
