How to secure your door for all door types!It may come as a surprise, but the most common entry point for burglars is the front door. So many front doors are inadequately protected from break-ins, although it doesn’t take much to make sure your door is up to the job it’s supposed to do.
It might sound obvious, but you would be surprised how many burglaries occur by opportunist burglars that gain entry through a door that’s been left unlocked. Always make sure you lock up properly whenever you leave your home, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
One of the most important security measures you can make is to ensure that your front door lock is up to standard. If your door is over 44mm, a five lever Mortice Deadlock that is British Standard approved 3621, is one of the best choices you can make. It’s no coincidence that many insurance companies will only approve locks that meet British Standards for their policies; these locks go through rigorous testing and are extremely foolproof. A good sturdy tamper proof lock is enough to deter any burglar who will ultimately be looking for easy targets and quick and easy access in and out of a property.
Glass panels although look great and allow lots of extra welcome light into the home are unfortunately a security risk. It’s so easy for an intruder to just smash the glass and let themselves in by reaching inside to open the latch lock. Do yourself a favour by opting for a front door that has no glass panels and is preferably strong and sturdy, definitely not hollow and not made from cheap materials such as wood like pine. Exterior doors should ideally be made from fibreglass, solid wood or metal. You want to be aiming for entry into your home to be as difficult as possible and eradicate every possibility there is to gain entry.
Spy holes, door chains, letterbox protectors and London and Birmingham bars are all simple and affordable solutions to help enhance the security to your front door without too much effort. Spy holes are a cheap and simple accessory that enables you to see who is on the other side of the door before actually opening up.
Letterbox protectors prevent intruders from gaining and getting access to your lock via your letterbox. A letter box should ideally be no closer than 400 mm from your front door lock.
Many burglaries are carried out by the burglar simply kicking in your front door. The door is kicked in so hard, that the door frame splits and shatters. London and Birmingham bars reinforce your front door and prevent the door from splitting. A London bar protects the lock side and a Birmingham bar protects the hinge side, it’s generally recommended to have both fitted for optimum security.
Last but not least, the additions of security lighting, CCTV and burglar alarms are all extremely effective ways to deter burglars. No one wants to be caught on camera and no one wants to be caught in the spotlight, plus if your property is broken into and you have CCTV footage, there’s more chance that the offenders will be caught, plus you’ll have hard evidence to use against them in a court of law.
A motion detecting LED can be enough to startle any burglar that will be trying at all odds to avoid any unwanted attention. Burglar alarms have exactly the same effect and it is known that burglars will actively avoid any properties that appear to have an alarm system in place. There are many types of burglar alarms on the market to meet all budgets and all needs; some can trigger a police response and some are bells-only, meaning that they will make a racket and draw attention to your property and deter burglars; but they won’t generate a police response. ADT, Chubb and Dyno-Secure are some of the leading names in the industry. When choosing your alarm, get recommendations from friends and neighbours and try to use a company that has been approved by an independent body such as the National Security Inspectorate (NSI).
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