You want to secure all doors and windows completely
because any burglar will exploit the weakest point of entry.
All they need is five minutes to grab many of your valuables and
still probably get away before the police arrive, which actually
happened to a Consumer Reports editor.
The more preventive steps you take, the more likely it is that
burglars will become discouraged enough to move on to some other
target.
Many people who think their homes are secure actually have one or
more vulnerabilities. We won't say exactly how
burglars can get through because some burglars will inevitably
stumble across this report and we don't want them to learn too
much. We'll just say many are equipped with portable power tools and machines
that can make special keys.
| 1. |  Unsecured sliding or swing-open windows are easy pickings
for burglars. Even if it is latched, some burglars have
ways of easily defeating that latch. Those windows should
be secured by a window security pin which can be a bolt or
any metal cylinder.
| | 2. | Non-moving windows
are less vulnerable, because burglars don't like making noise as
they break the glass, nor do they like leaving a visual clue that
someone has broken in. Some burglars still prefer to smash
through windows just because it's the simplest way to get in. But
the vast majority avoid "double-glazed" (two-pane) windows
because breaking them causes much more noise. Double-glazed
windows cost hundreds to install, but on the other hand they'll
lower your heating bill.
| | 3. | Exterior doors are
extremely vulnerable to burglars, especially under the cover of
darkness. Your exterior doors should be steel or solid
wood to prevent saw-throughs or axe hacks, especially the
back door. If you're unsure whether a door is solid, swing
it back and forth: if it swings as easily as your interior doors,
you know it's not solid wood. The more removed from street
view a door is, the more likely it is that a burglar will force
his way through it.
| | 4. | Ordinary door locks
can usually be defeated by amateur burglars who know how to hack
through it. There is no substitute for a high-security
bump-proof door lock costing $150 to $250 installed, which
you can get by calling a locksmith in your area. Without
one, some burglars know how to get inside in just ten
seconds. Deadbolt locks are recommended too, but
remember: they can't be locked from outside. All door
locks should be labeled with an "ANSI Grade 1"
classification. Medeco brand locks are often recommended by
experts.
| | 5. | Door jambs can make
your doorway just as vulnerable because most doors are weakly
constructed in that area: many can be pried open with a
crowbar, or even kicked in. To check this, unscrew a screw
from the door frame. If it's at least 2.5 inches, put it back;
otherwise replace all screws with stainless steel screws
of the same thread type that are 2.5 to 3 inches long.
| | 6. |  Sliding
glass doors can easily be levered up and out
of their tracks with a simple crowbar. Make yours
impossible to lift it out of its track by drilling screws
into the track it slides along. Some burglars have ways to
open a simple inside latch from outside. To
prevent that, use a window pin (previously discussed)
or equip it with a sliding door lock (available
at home improvement stores). Bracing it shut with a bar or pole
is far less secure.
| | 7. | Garage doors are a favorite target for
crowbar-wielding burglars: many of them are easy to pry open.
Most modern automatic garage doors are fairly secure
from this problem. Any other type of garage door should be
padlocked whenever possible. If you don't like either of
these options, you need a steel door between the garage
and the house. Once the burglar is inside your garage and hidden
from view, he won't hesitate to use an axe or even a power
tool.
| | 8. |
A safe room is a good idea in case someone breaks in.
Keep a separate phone there, and use a good door locks and/or
something to brace it shut.
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These tips will deter the vast majority of burglars, but they
could still get in by breaking glass or prying doors off their
frames. A determined burglar may very well resort to that
if he thinks nobody's home for the night. It would cost thousands
to establish nearly invulnerable security, which most people
would rather spend in other ways. You'd need to install
expensive steel doors, security grates over all glass surfaces,
and steel frames around all doors and windows.
(Next Gem: How To Ensure Your Personal Safety)
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