Unlike the sophisticated tunneling operations of bank break-in that you see on the movie screen, a lot of house robbers in real life merely go in the front door. Breaking or removing the front door is the most typical kind of forced-entry break-in, according to the United States Department of Justice. If you are a NCIS fan, you know that Jethro Gibbs never locks his front door, but you can ward off lots of thieves by just locking the door, as an average of 30% of robberies do not involve any forced entry. To keep away more aggressive robbers, take these steps to strengthen your door, locks and door frame.
Burglar proof your door
Your front door should be much stronger than interior doors, which are normally made of flimsy wood sheets over cardboard with a hollow core. Steel doors that are strengthened are the most protected, but they generally require more upkeep than fiberglass, which is a second good alternative. Strong wood doors are a 3rd choice.
Even metal doors can be bent out of the frame with a car jack, so try to find a top quality, enhanced door. Likewise avoid sidelights or glass panels in the door. If you have glass panels within reach of the doorknob, use a more powerful laminated glass, and a double-cylinder deadbolt that is keyed on the inside. This avoids robbers from smashing the glass, reaching in and turning the lock. However, this procedure of burglar-proofing could compromises security in case of a fire. It may also be against code in some locations.
Examine to make sure the door is hung properly. The hinges need to be on the inside, and there need to be a safe, tight screw in each hole. A properly hung, secure door is more difficult to break down. If the hinges should be on the outside, include locking pins to the hinges.
Burglar-proof your locks
Every exterior door must have a deadbolt with a bolt a minimum of one inch long. As an additional measure of security, consider a second deadbolt that locks from the inside but only has a blank faceplate outside. These can just be locked from the interior, so they do not assist when you aren't home, however they can prevent an unsafe home intrusion robbery while you are inside your home.
A quality deadbolt could set you back $150. Search for locks licensed by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA). Medeco makes potentially the best locks on the market. They are challenging to duplicate and protect against drilling, choosing and bumping, which is a brand-new way to pick locks with a master key. Bumping is gaining prestige thanks to how-to videos posted on YouTube.
Burglar-proof the frame
The most vulnerable part of the door is typically overlooked– the jamb and frame. An intruder can still break into a solid door with a strong lock if the lock enters into a thin strike plate and some flimsy pine.
Change the flat strike plate with a much deeper box strike, which is a steel pocket for the bolt, and include three-inch screws that drive into the studs rather than just the doorjamb.
The next step in burglar-proofing the door frame is steel door jamb reinforcement. Door Jamb Armor is a popular alternative that adds a strip of galvanized steel around the entire door. The manufacturer claims the item can stand up to a battering ram.
Most crooks are trying to find an easy way to break in. Strengthening your door, locks and door frame can discourage most robberies. For added defense, get an alarm system. Statistics suggest houses without security systems are 3 times as likely to be broken into than houses with security systems.
Likewise keep your entrance-way visible. Avoid shrubs or trees that might block the front door and offer cover for a criminal.
Last, but certainly not least, is to install an alarm system. This is the very best way to burglar proof your home. Give us a call today for an estimate of what it would take to keep your family safe.
Home Security Pros Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-492-0874
http://besthomesecuritymyrtlebeach.com/
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