Doors and Windows

Doors and windows of your home are the easiest ways to get inside and special attention needs to be paid to them.

Doors

Doors need to be closed and locked whenever you are away from home and it’s a good practice to lock your doors while at home as well. Your exterior doors need to be sturdy and well fitted. The doors should be made of solid wood or metal. Make sure to install high quality locks on your doors to deter burglars from picking or drilling your locks. An upper end Schlage lock will be great for protection from both. Ensure that the door jamb around the door is reinforced with metal to prevent the door from being forced in. It is easy to kick the door in if the jamb is not reinforced. Avoid having glass panels around the door that can be broken and allow access to the inside of the door and the lock. Also, make sure that all doors have door contacts on them connected to the security alarm system to keep your home protected. Outside of the doors should be well lit with motion activated lights for the back and the front. The front door should have a 180 degree peephole so you know who is at the door without opening it. Alternatively an access control system with an intercom can be installed for additional protection.

Windows

Windows should be closed and locked whenever not in use. Learning to keep windows locked whenever not open will save you from leaving them unlocked when you leave home. Windows should have blinds and curtains on them to keep potential burglars from looking in and assessing your possessions. It is recommended to have bars for all the windows in the basement as that is one of the most common points of access to a house for burglars. A glass break detector should be installed in areas with large windows to detect if a window has been broken and to sound the alarm. Window contacts should be placed on all basement and main floor windows to detect if a window is opened.