We all know that the risk of break-ins is difficult to eliminate, but, apart from our household and homeowners insurance and our security systems, there are a lot of other easy ways to reduce this risk to a minimum. The fact is that burglars want to get in and out of your property as quickly as possible. If we make it more difficult for them to enter our property, they will need more time, which means that chances of them being caught increase.
Your main points of entry such as your doors and windows are the weakest point of your home, as most burglaries happen through these openings. Making it as difficult as possible for burglars to gain access to your home through doors and windows is the easiest and cheapest way to increase your security and prevent break-ins.
Outside and inside doors
Make sure you have the strongest possible doors, not only your outside doors, but inside doors as well, as weak doors can easily be kicked in. The best doors are those that are made from solid wood or metal, or those that have internal metal enforcement. Also make sure you have security gates installed, both outside as well as inside your home. If you have glass doors, make sure that the glass is break resistant. The door jams, as well as the door handles should be of the strongest possible material so that forced entry can be prevented. There are special hinging systems which prevent your doors from being lifted out.
Locks
Locks are used to create a physical barrier and they make it more difficult for a burglar to gain access to your property. The risk of burglary is increased when your locks can be opened, forced, and in the case of padlocks - removed and switched easily. It is of utmost importance to use the right type of lock for a specific point of entry. For more information and advice it would be a good idea to consult a
locksmith. Be careful who you give (extra) keys to. The lock is useless if keys fall into the wrong hands. If you can't remember exactly who you gave spare keys to in the past, change your locks. The use of deadbolt locks is vital in the prevention of break-ins. Ask your locksmith for advice. If you use padlocks to lock a door, make sure they are of the best possible quality you can afford. Good quality, tamper-proof padlocks are made from case-hardened steel. Keep the padlock closed at all times, even when not in use, so that you can prevent someone from removing or switching it.
