Prevent Thieves from Kicking Down Your Doors

Many people invest time and money into securing there home through methods like security cameras, motion detectors, alarm systems and guard dogs. However, most of these people overlook the most obvious entrance thieves take when breaking into a home: Doors. Here are some ideas, products and tips that should be taken into consideration to help prevent thieves from breaking down your doors.

Investing Your Time and Money

• Doors are not complicated pieces of equipment, however they have many components that can seem complicated at times. When you invest your money into your doors, make sure you're investing in the components.

• Good Doors- Exterior doors made of solid wood, solid wood cores, fiber glass or metal are all great choices. Metal doors should always be reinforced inside with a lock block for added security.

• Door Jams- Door jamb repair kits, such as the ones made by Door Jamb Armor, work great on new or existing doors. They're made of galvanized steel and are powder coated for weatherproofing purposes. They reinforce the key strike points and add a great of amount of additional protection.

• Deadlocks- Deadlocks should be solid metal, with no exposed screws on the exterior side and a throw bolt that’s at least one inch long. Double cylinder locks are great too since they require a key to open from either side.

• Strike Plates- Strike plates are the metal pieces that surround the lockset. They should always be made of heavy metal and secured by four 3 inch screws to guarantee absolute protection.

• Peep Holes- You can either purchase a door with a peep hole, or install one yourself. It’s always a good idea to get a wide-angle viewer at eye level so it’s easy to see outside and around the area. There’s also peep holes you can buy and install that allow you to adjust where you're looking, pointing it up, down and side to side.

Preventive Tips

These are just a few reminders and tips to go along with the investing information.

• Double cylinder locks are a great idea if you have a window near your door. Thieves can break the window, but still won’t be able to unlock door and gain entry.

• Hinges should never be exposed to the outside, if they are, re-hang your door properly with non-removable pins.

• When you're securing strike plates, angle the screws back slightly to catch the frame.

• Prevent jimmying by buying jimmy guards. This is the metal lip on the outside of your strike plate.

• Don’t stop at your doors. Invest in your windows and garage doors too.

• Don’t hide keys under mats, in planters or in discreet areas around your doorway, they aren’t that discreet to a smart criminal.