Thieves, burglars, robbers, vandals or trespassers, anyone who has the intention of looting or causing damage to your property will resort to one of the common break-in attempts. They can resort to brute force attack or carry out a drill attack. They may try to pick, bump or snap your locks. These methods are quite self-explanatory and rather obvious. What is not so obvious is the steps you should take to theft-proof your doors. In this comprehensive guide, we lay out the necessary precautions you must take to protect your house from criminals.
Solid Core Doors
You should always go for solid core doors. Do not have any fancy panel door or anything that is not outright solid, sturdy and capable of enduring several blows. All entrances and exits should have solid core door. You must choose a door that is made of a material that can endure brute force attacks, it should be able to withstand extreme weather and it should not undergo structural changes when exposed to moisture, snow, strong wind and ultraviolet rays of the sun. If your main door is weak, then all a thief or burglar has to do is kick it or ram it and they would be in. If your door has a glass panel or multiple panels, make sure they are reinforced. You need security glass film so burglars cannot break in.
The Material Of The Door
The material of the door is only one element in the entire equation. You need the frame and the overall setup to be theft proof as well. You should reinforce all door jambs with something as steel placements. These would provide additional security. You can install door stops in the frames. These stops can play a crucial role when thieves or burglars try to take off the door from the hinges. You should also check the type of hinges your door has. Hinges that face inward are easier for burglars to ram into or kick in.
Secure Lock
You should never use any lock that can be easily picked, bumped or snapped. There are burglar or theft proof locks. These will be a little pricier but you have to bear the cost if you want to theft proof your home. You should have deadbolts. Many security experts recommend using more than one type of lock. When you have one deadbolt and another burglar proof lock, it takes way too much time for anyone to get through that door, especially when the door is also theft proof and cannot be just kicked in. In addition to the locks, you should reinforce the strike plate so the lock is resistant to sheer external force. You can use longer than normal screws to fix the plate to the jamb of your door.
Monitoring System
You should have additional security features in your home. Theft proofing your home and using burglar proof locks can be sufficient but you cannot be sure. You should have surveillance cameras and a monitored security system. Surveillance cameras are often criticized for being useful only when an investigation is conducted following an untoward event. This is not fair criticism because real time monitoring can prevent theft or burglary. Many homeowners feel that installing surveillance cameras would suffice. A monitoring system is what makes the difference. It raises the alarm in real time. Also, surveillance acts as a deterrent, something a deadbolt or reinforced solid core door may not be able to achieve.
Conclusion
Each of these tips will lead you to plenty of options. You can choose wooden, steel or fiberglass doors. All these three materials can work provided you go for a solid core. Likewise, there are different types of glass, hinges, jambs and even frames of doors. Every component plays a crucial role. One component relies on the theft proofing or sturdiness of another. If one aspect is compromised, then another challenge will be overcome by burglars. It would only be a matter of time. This is the reason why surveillance cameras must also be installed at strategic places. There should be at least one camera aimed directly at the door so burglars are facing it when trying to break in through the door. The camera cannot be just out in the open, hanging from the ceiling or a beam. It should be concealed. Recessed cameras should have reinforced glass caps.
There are theft proof hinges. You can get hinges that have safety studs or crimped pins. There are special jambs and door frames. Then there are special types of materials that make doors sturdier than just solid core wood, steel or fiberglass. Consult your door company to choose the best. You can have locks with anti drill pins. There are additional security pins that you can use in some locks. Consult a locksmith if you wish to explore all such possibilities. Don’t forget the windows. Many burglars prefer to break in through the windows, not the doors.