Front Door Security Tips – 3 Ways to Stop Home Intruders From Kicking in Doors

By David Carrington

The FBI says: “A home is invaded every 12 seconds by someone going right through a front or back door. Secure your doors.”

The easiest way for a someone to break in to your home is to just kick in the door. The is the way that the vast majority of home invaders and burglars enter a home. In fact, they come right through the door over 70% of the time…and 80% of the time the door frame fails, not the door locks as most people believe.

Just How Does Someone Kick In the Door?

Most often doors are “Shoulder Slammed” or “Mule Kicked” by intruders. “Shoulder Slamming” is simply driving one’s shoulder into a door with great force. “Mule Kicking” is when someone turns their back to the door and kicks it in the same way that a mule kicks with his hind leg. “Mule Kicking” a door is an intruder’s favorite way to gain entry as it allows him to see who may be watching him from the street and beyond, plus it can open a door in a split second when done correctly.

The 4 Reasons Why Doors are Able to Be Kicked In So Easily…

1. Most door frames on houses are nothing more than two 2″ by 4″ pine studs nailed together and covered with thin decorative wood trim.

2. Most door knobs and deadbolts are poorly secured in the door.

3. Most door hinges are held to the door and door frame with screws about 1 inch long or less. (Go remove a screw from one of your door hinges and you’ll see)

4. Most door frames have a small, thin, weak strike plate that is held in with screws less than 1 inch long.

How to Correct Weak Door Latch and Door Frame Problems…

There is very little realistically that you can do to correct the fact that your walls and door frames are made from soft wood 2″ by 4″ studs. It’s just a fact that most houses are constructed in this way. But what can be done is to reinforce all of the weak areas which are the most prone to fail.

1. Put a metal door guard over the areas where your door knob and deadbolt are that extends to the very edge of the door. This prevents the door knob latch and deadbolt stem from being able to be broken out of the door.

2. Replace the short typical 1 inch screws in the hinges with 2.5″ long screws in the hinge side going to the door frame and put 1.5″ screws in the hinge side that attaches to the door. This prevents the hinged side of the door from being able to be kicked out.

3. Replace the small 1 to 3 inch strike plates on the door frame with a 5 foot metal door reinforcement product. This prevents the latch side of the door from being able to be kicked open. A 5′ metal strike plate serves a dual purpose. It replaces the small weak strike plates with something much stronger and it prevents weak door frames made of soft wood from splitting. When the door frame splits, that’s what causes the door knob and deadbolt to allow the door to open. Some door reinforcement products will also easily repair a broken door frame.

Door Knobs and Deadbolts

Aside from what’s listed above, make sure you have good quality door knobs and deadbolts, preferably the newer “pick proof” models.

It does you little good to have strengthened your door frame and hinges if the quality of your locks is poor. By the same token, good door locks alone are not going to prevent a door kick in. You must address and correct all the weaknesses if you are to be fully protected.

The old saying…”An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” most definitely applies when considering your door frames and door locks. Fix them now while it’s fresh in your mind. After all, what’s more valuable than your safety, your family’s safety and your home?

About the Author: David Carrington is a home security expert. The time to protect your home and family is now. Don’t wait until it’s too late. As the old saying goes: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Visit StrikeMaster II for more information.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=402715&ca=Home+Management

View post: Front Door Security Tips – 3 Ways to Stop Home Intruders From Kicking in Doors

Manchester Locksmiths Advice: Are Your Current Locks Meeting Your Insurance Requirements?

You may think your home is protected under you home insurance policy, but if you have not updated your locks, it may not be. A lot of home insurance companies in Manchester now request that clients have certain locks installed in their doors and windows. Manchester locksmiths will help you to figure out whether you are using the right lock or not.

 

Manchester Locksmiths- Does Your House Comply With The British Standard For Household Locks?

 

Clients are now required by insurance companies to comply with the British Standard BS3621. There are specific directives as to what locks should be used and where they should be used.

 

These are the qualities of locks that are used:

  • It must be mortice deadlock
  • Rim deadlock
  • Key operated mortice rack bolt on glass doors
  • Solid doors must have 10 inch deadbolt
  • Multi-point locking systems must be used on aluminum or PVC doors, and must be constructed for use of a key on both sides
  • Patio doors should be fitted with top and bottom doors
  • Double doors, French doors, and windows, should have key-fitted locks on each sleeve

 

Many insurance companies require the use of these locks on:

  • Front doors
  • All back doors
  • The patio doors
  • Double doors
  • The French doors
  • All windows

 

Find Manchester Locksmiths – If Your Locks Are Not Updated, How Will It Affect Your Insurance?

 

You may still be covered by your old insurance and lock if you already have an insurance before changes were made to the British lock requirements. However, if a burglary should happen to occur and your locks are not updated, there is a good chance your claim will not be addressed.

 

Home insurance companies may never give you a quite if you don’t have a lock system that satisfies the British Standard BS3621:2004.

 

What You Will Get From These Standards

You need Manchester locksmiths who know the basic lock home insurance requirements to work with.

 

It is true that you will have to pay for these locks from your pocket but using an experienced Manchester locksmith will help you in a number of ways:

  • Provide insurance discounts due to proper security
  • Your family and belongings will be adequately protected
  • Your house will be protected from intruders
  • Burglars can’t get out of your house once they have broken in
  • It will enhance your chances of obtaining insurance quotes from the top insurance companies in the Manchester area.

 

Before you think of insuring your house, get a Manchester locksmith to upgrade the lock of your house. The right Manchester locksmiths are aware of current insurance standards and will assist you with the protection you need in order to be in compliance with your insurance provider. Cheap Manchester Locksmiths

Don’t Fall Victim to a Violent Crime – Follow These Simple Residential Security Tips

By John R. Stewart

In recent years, security has become a very real concern and residential security even more so with the increase of violent crimes like home invasions. However, you do not have to be a victim of a violent crime such as a home invasion if you just follow a few simple rules and invest in a little bit of security technology. Another thing to realize about securing your home is that it dies not have to be expensive either. Many residential security products on the market are very affordable and in some cases, you can even install them yourselves although a professional installation may be preferred.

Perhaps the most common form of residential security technology that people use is door locks. With locks, you have several different options to choose from that you can install or have a residential locksmith install on your doors. To cut costs you may want to consider having the existing locks re-keyed, which will give you the peace of mind that not even the former residents will have a working key. You may want to have all of the locks in your home replaced, if you do then consider double-key deadbolts and you may even want to consider locks that will only recognize the fingerprints of your family.

Some people may really want to take a more serious approach to secure their home against burglaries, and if you are one of these people, then you may want to consider installing these additional items on your home. Heavy solid wood or steel doors will help to provide a barrier that will deter an aggressive burglar. Shatterproof windows are another way to deter home invaders from entering your home, and some of these windows will take repeated hits from baseball bats and crowbars without breaking. These two items provide excellent protection when they are installed properly.

Of course, if you are serious about keeping your family safe in your home then you should seriously consider having an alarm system installed in your home. Alarm systems do not have to be very expensive, and many residential security services that offer alarm systems installed at an affordable price. If you subscribe to a security company’s monitoring service they, will often times install the alarm system at a little or no cost to you. There are different levels of coverage with an alarm system so be sure to purchase a system that covers all exterior windows and doors.

Another way to secure your home and that most people never really think about is with your property’s landscaping and this type of security is very easy to do. For starters, you may want to consider keeping your front yard clear of any obstructions. Not only will your yard be easier to maintain, but you will have a clear view of the front of your property and see anyone that approaches your home from that direction. Plant shrubbery in front of your windows and preferably shrubbery that looks nice but offers a natural deterrent like a Bougainvillea, which has thorns that will hurt a would be burglar.

About the Author: This article was provided by NorCal Locksmith visit us at Roseville Locksmith. While there check out our blog at http://www.norcallocksmith.com/blog and feel free to leave a question or post a response to any of the security related topics.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=737767&ca=Home+Management

Read more here: Don’t Fall Victim to a Violent Crime – Follow These Simple Residential Security Tips

The Five Home Security Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes

By Richard Armen

Did you know that a break-in happens somewhere in the United States about every 12 to 15 seconds? Almost everyone assumes that they are immune to becoming part of this statistic, yet every year, thousands of people do. Even if you think that your home is relatively secure, could you be doing more? Most homeowners make at least a few mistakes when it comes to home security; in fact, it’s nearly impossible to live your life without opening yourself up to some common home security risks. It might surprise you how much your everyday actions are leaving you vulnerable to burglars or other criminals. Here are the five everyday home security mistakes that almost everyone makes:

1. Being careless with junk mail. Junk mail is just “junk,” right? If you think junk mail isn’t worth a second thought, you’re wrong. Don’t leave your mail in the mailbox or throw it away without shredding it. Junk mail contains a surprising amount of personal identification. Even just one credit card application is enough for an identity thief to wreak havoc on your finances. Plus, information found in the mail could help a savvy burglar figure out when there will be no one home.

2. Answering the door without first finding out who is there. Once the door is opened just a crack, it is extraordinarily easy for someone on the other side to force their way into your home. If you don’t have a peephole in your front door, install one this weekend. Video surveillance systems can be another great way to keep an eye on your front porch and find out who’s knocking.

If the person ringing your doorbell is dressed as a delivery person or maintenance worker, and you’re not expecting one, don’t be afraid to ask for their identification. There have been stories in the news about burglars posing in these common uniforms as a disguise to gain entry into the home.

3. Being too obvious when hiding a spare key. Many people hide a spare key somewhere near the home in case they get locked out. The problem comes when the key is not hidden well, such as under the doormat or inside a hide-a-key that sticks out like a sore thumb. If you want to keep a spare key where criminals won’t find it, use a realistic hide-a-key device placed in a location where it blends into the surroundings.

4. Forgetting to use locks and alarms. It isn’t enough to simply have locks and security alarms on the doors. In order for them to work, you must actually use them! You might be surprised to know just how many homeowners frequently miss this critical step.

5. Being careless with their phone number. If your home phone number is listed in the phone book, anyone who looks it up can find your address, and anyone who calls will know when you’re not home. With an address and phone number, a surprising amount of information can be learned about the occupant. This is particularly true when your answering machine gives out too much personal information about you, such as that you are a young woman living alone. Instead, keep your landline number private, and give out your cell phone number to anyone who needs to contact you.

About the Author: Resist Attack has a full range of TASER devices to keep you and your family safe. Also check our expandable baton specials

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=549157&ca=Home+Management

Go here to see the original: The Five Home Security Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes


Performance Optimization WordPress Plugins by W3 EDGE