Ensuring the security of your home and the safety of your loved ones is vital for a happy, comfortable and safe family life. In light of the increasing number of home burglaries, it is essential that you keep your home protected from burglaries and other criminal invasions. Home security requires a well-planned and proficient adoption of effective security measures. Following are some of the most common home security threats to consider when designing your home security strategy.

Do Locked Doors Deter Burglars?

Many home owners are concerned about unauthorized entry into their home. Most often there is a worry about how easy locks are to pick, but that is not the first way a burglar will attempt to gain entry into your home. Criminals typically begin by simply checking to see if the doors are locked. Often burglars pose as door to door salesmen and commit their burglaries during the day when many people are away from the home at work or running errands. A criminal 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 turn the door knob and walk right in. Perpetrators tend to take the path of least resistance, so it is important to always lock your doors.

Are Double Sided Deadbolts Safe?

A solution for doors having glass panels within reach of the lock is to install a double cylinder deadbolt, which operated by a key on both sides. In order to lock or unlock this device from either side, the key will be needed. While this prevents a criminal from smashing the glass, reaching in, and unlocking the door, this type of lock 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.

Which Door Do Burglars Use?

As mentioned above, criminals often begin by checking to see if you are locking your front door. When the front door is locked, the next step for a burglar is to force their way in. This will always be an attempt to gain entry as fast 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 screws for the strike plate and door hinges with 3-inch screws to reinforce the frame

Should I Be Worried if I Lost My House Key?

Every key to your home should be known and accounted for. If you lose your house key, you simply do not know who has it or when they could use it to gain entry into your home. In addition, when you trust someone with a spare key to your home, there is always a possibility they made more copies before they returned it to you. In addition to family and friends 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 time. Even if you 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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Now that you know the different security concerns, you must take the time to check that you are protected. This may mean investing in some better security. Consider what might harm your property, and take the steps to ensure that nothing happens to you or the people you love. Do you need to upgrade your home security? At First Lock & Security Technologies, our locksmith technicians are fast, efficient, and experienced in security evaluation and lock upgrades. Call us today to keep your loved ones safe!