5 ways to securely lock your doors
Thieves will prefer the front door as the point of entry into your home. Entering a property via the front entrance looks a lot less suspicious than a person climbing in and out of a window, and it makes it easier to load a vehicle up with stolen property.
In Australia, out of the more than 200,000 reported burglaries, over 70% of the thieves make off with your goods through your front door. Of course, every door which allows access to the property is going to be a target for thieves, so here are five different ways you can request your local locksmith to increase the security on your property’s main entryways.
1. Use longer screws
Many doors use screws that are just long enough to bite into the surrounding trim. This is a weak bond that makes the door vulnerable to kicks or ramming. Request your local locksmith to use a sturdy 3-inch screw will give the screw enough length to bite into the stud of the door frame, making it much more of a challenge to knock it off its hinges.
2. Door material
A door is only as good as the material from which it is made. Flimsy material means that a determined criminal will be able to punch a hole right through it and gain access to the locking mechanism.
Installing doors with solid wooden cores will prevent intrusions of this type, but for even more security a metal core of iron or steel will create a formidable barrier to all but the most skilful and well-equipped burglars.
3. Hardware covers
Hollow areas must be created in the door for the installation of the locking mechanism, and it’s these areas which are often targeted by well-equipped thieves. You can make their job more difficult by installing a hard metal slipcover that protects the area underneath and around the locking hardware. Cheaper versions are made of softer brass, but more sturdy hardware is available in iron and stainless steel.
4. High-security locks
Security comes from the deadbolt and not the handle, even if the handle contains the locking mechanism. For this reason, it is essential that a deadbolt is built to withstand a significant amount of force.
How strong a deadlock is will depend a lot on the type of metal used in its construction, and also the thickness. Some locks use stainless steel, but are hollow so will not be as tough as a lock of similar diameter but solid. Hardened metal construction will prevent entry via drilling, and picking resistance will foil attempts to pick the lock.
5. Security screens
Many security screen doors are created from flimsy aluminium which offer little to no protection from forced entry. If you are after more security, then a sturdy security screen is one of the best ways to do it.
Security screens protect the occupant while they are still home, while also adding an extra layer of security to the entrance, complete with another lock to work through when they are out. Because of the extra work involved, many criminals will pass by properties which are protected by an additional security screen door.
When considering strategies you can use to increase the security of your property check out TradebustersConnect.com.au, a site which has you covered for with local area choices of local locksmiths in Sydney and surrounding areas.