| Before we can discuss ways to prevent a home | | | | - A high quality deadbolt will have what's called a |
| burglary, it's important to have an understanding of | | | | beveled casing. This usually stops the use of channel |
| when the burglaries occur, who commits the crimes, | | | | lock pliers to break off the lock pins and gain access. |
| and what is usually taken. Almost all home burglaries | | | | - Always spend the extra money and get Grade One |
| happen during the day, when people are at work. The | | | | or Grade Two locks for exterior doors, as these resist |
| summer months see a lot of burglaries, especially in | | | | prying, hammering, and lock picking. |
| July and August. February actually has the fewest | | | | Expert (But completely obvious) Tip: |
| number of burglaries compared to the other months. | | | | Most people leave an extra set of keys in the car. |
| Home burglaries are usually committed by males under | | | | Burglars are wise to this and first look inside your car |
| 25 years old. These guys are usually trying to grab | | | | for house keys and valuables. Make sure you lock |
| small things that are easy to carry away and sell for | | | | your car, even if it's in the garage. |
| quick cash that is needed for living expenses an most | | | | Now let's talk about Doors. Follow these tips below |
| often, drugs. The favorite items of theft are cash, guns, | | | | when considering doors in your home. |
| jewelry and watches, computers and DVD players, | | | | - Always spend the extra money and buy solid core |
| and CDs. These things are easily concealed in a duffel | | | | or metal doors for all exterior entrance points. Many |
| bag as the thief exits the home, and are easy to | | | | cheap exterior doors have hollow cores, and can |
| convert to cash. | | | | easily be kicked through with not much effort by a |
| Thieves never like to do any extra work if they don't | | | | determined burglar. |
| have to, so they first look for an open door or window. | | | | - If the door doesn't come with one, install a peephole |
| And, unlike most movies where the bad guy carries a | | | | that is a wide-angle 160°, mounted no higher than |
| fancy lock pick kit, burglars prefer to use common | | | | 58 inches from the floor. |
| household tools like screwdrivers, pliers, pry bars and | | | | - Make sure the door comes with a heavy-duty, |
| hammers. Although it may seem like burglaries are | | | | four-screw, strike plate with 3-inch screws to |
| random and happen on a whim, this is rarely the case. | | | | penetrate deep into a wooden door frame. The strike |
| Burglars will always go for the easiest target. This is | | | | plate is almost always the weakest part of the door, |
| the house with the easiest access, good places to | | | | as it is where the deadbolt secures the door in place |
| hide, and a good escape route. | | | | with the door jamb. Cheap doors come with very soft |
| Burglars always go for the easy target! Most burglars | | | | wooden moldings that are usually tacked onto the |
| will skip your house if it seems too difficult to enter. So | | | | door frame. It just takes a strong kick or shove with a |
| the best way to help prevent a home burglary is to | | | | shoulder to tear the lightweight molding away and |
| make it difficult for a thief to get in. Most burglars pick | | | | burst the door open. |
| a point of entry that has the most cover, and usually | | | | - Also make sure that the screws that hold the door |
| has the weakest lock. This is typically the garage door, | | | | hinges in place have at least two 3 inch screws per |
| followed by the back door, and then the front door. | | | | hinge plate. |
| Now let's take a look at some pointers for the types | | | | - Make sure that the screws holding the knob lock |
| of locks you should consider: | | | | strike plate are longer ones as well. |
| - Use a high quality, heavy-duty, deadbolt lock that has | | | | To Conclude: |
| a one-inch throw bolt (The part that goes into the door | | | | We always recommend spending the extra money to |
| when locked) | | | | get good solid core or metal exterior doors, and strong, |
| - If you have to use a "knob-in-lock", make sure you | | | | heavy duty locks. Remember that an experienced |
| get one that's high quality, heavy duty, and has a | | | | burglar can identify good doors and good locks. It is |
| "dead-latch" feature. | | | | very likely that the mere presence of these upgrades |
| - A "dead-latch" mechanism prevents a credit card or | | | | will cause the burglar to think twice and move onto an |
| shim from being used to pop open the lock | | | | easier target. |