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How To Secure Your Home The Easy Way
When it comes securing your home or workplace don't get fooled into believing the old saying that 'locks only keep the honest people out'. There is little doubt that well made high-quality window and door locks will make your property much less attractive to potential burglars. If you carry out a security survey of your house, making sure that you don't cut any corners then you are sure to be able to find some security devices that you can trust.
If your local police department has the resources to carry out a home security inspection then this would be a good idea. Failing that, a sensible alternative would be to get a locksmith to carry out an evaluation of your home, explaining the possible security options and installing professional quality lock devices.
If you have any of the entrance doors to your home are hollow then it is very important that you replace them with solid hardwood ones which are at least 4.5cm thick, steel clad or insulated fibreglass doors. The surrounding frame must not have any measurable gap around it as this may allow a crow/pry bar to compromise it. It may sound like common sense, however any exterior doors must have their hinges mounted on the inside as it is a simple task to remove exterior hinges. Also, rather than installing a door chain it is better to have a 180-degree poophole mounted in your door. It is also important to make sure that any letterboxes are positioned in such a way that it would be impossible for a hand to reach through to any locks.
If your doors have cheap locks (which are relatively easy to unlock with the right tools) installed in them then they should be replaced with hardened steel pin or dead bolt locks. If you prefer the convenience of a traditional key-in-knob lock then you should still add a deadbolt above it. Grade 1 or 2 dead bolt locks are most suitable as they can withstand considerable hammering, wrenching, kicking or prying. The single cylinder brand of deadbolt is key operated from the outside whereas the double cylinder can be key operated from inside or outside. Doors that are positioned near a window or other glass pane should have a double cylinder model installed so that burglars can't break the glass and unlock the door.
Any dead bolts that you buy should have a steel bolt that has a 2.5cm throw, strike plate which are secured with 3 inch screws and 5 or 6 pin cyclinders as well as a solid-metal cylindrical collar. The screws must be long enough so that they will penetrate the frame around the door.
If your externel doors swing outwards then you should install a steel door pin near to each hinge so that the door cannot be pried out. Any double hung windows should be secured with a bolt or a nail. The hole should be drilled through both sashes at a downward angle in order to prevent any burglars from jiggling the pin loose. If you can avoid it, don't buy crescent or butterfly latches as these are easily picked by using a knife.
If you have sliding doors then you can prevent these from being lifted off their tracks by using antilift plates or vertical bolts.
About the Author
Dave Matthews is writing on behalf of New Blinds, a leading online retailer of window blinds.
