How To Prevent Burglaries

The brief version of what I've learned in East Atlanta and Decatur as a Home Intrusion Prevention Specialist:

Most break-ins are by forcing in a door, which busts out the doorframe jamb and often breaks the door itself at the lock.  The minimum thing you can do is replace the strike plate screws with 3-inch screws or replace the strike with a larger one that takes more screws. 

The next avenue of intrusion is windows, and they can be reinforced with window pins, burglar bars, and clear window security film.

For door security you have the following options:

(1)   Install a wrought iron security door in front of the entry door.   I call them “burglar bar doors.”  Cost starts about $130 off-the-shelf.

(2)   Install a special security storm door (Larson “Secure Elegance” or Anderson 4000 Series) in front of the entry door.  Heavy duty frame; laminated safety glass; three-point locking.  Adds the advantage of weatherproofing.  Door costs $355, including tax.

(3)   Reinforce the door jamb and the door with one of the unobtrusive steel hardware systems now available, like Door Jamb Armor or Strikemaster. These are 4-foot long, white, steel plates that anchor to the frame & wall studs with long screws.  They have holes that receive the deadbolt and knob latch, thus backing them up with steel instead of wood.  Equally important is a Door Shield, especially if you have a fiberglass door.  If you are handy and have the right tools, you can buy these and install them yourself, though usually there are complications.

(4)   Once you are inside the house, there are several products you can put in place to prevent the door from being forced in, but they won’t secure the door when you leave through it.   Nightlock & Door Guardian are some of the brands.   

(5)   The deadbolt lock is an essential component of the security system.  Most residential deadbolts are the relatively flimsy Grade 3.  A better choice is Grade 2 or Grade 1.  Best readily-available choices are Kwikset’s UltraMax or Schlage’s B560.  High security deadbolts are the ultimate quality, but cost $250 or more.

Double doors can be reinforced to resist forced entry.  First the stationery door is made sturdy using special hardware.  Then the jamb, door edge and hinges are reinforced as for single doors.  Doors with glass are reinforced by (1) changing to a double-keyed deadbolt and/or (2) installing clear security film ($8 per square foot, installed), which bonds to the glass and keeps broken shards in place rather than falling out.

My business, The Entry Enforcer (404-289-6960), provides and installs intrusion prevention products for single and double doors, including solutions for glass doors and windows.