Even with the most advanced home security system, your home will not be fully complete if you don’t have proper locks for your doors and windows. A good lock is a fantastic first step to making sure the bad guys can’t get into your home. By making it difficult for a thief to get into your home they will likely move on to an easier target.
Here are some tips on how to maximize your security by using the right locks:
Have secure front door locks. The door should have deadbolts in addition to keyed door locksets. Look for deadbolts with a 1-inch (2.5cm) throw bolt and an interlocking frame. Don't choose a dual-cylinder device - the kind with a key for both sides. These can trap your family inside in the event of a house fire. If you have one now, replace it.
Consider also installing deadbolts on the door from the garage into your home. If your door has a window, secure it with a decorative grille that has no removable screws. This is especially important if the window or glass is within an arm's length of the door handle, which could allow an intruder to break the glass in the window and reach inside to let himself in. We’ve all heard stories about how a burglar has broken glass by the front door and then simply opened the front door’s lock and then simply walked right into a home.
Cover the window with a curtain or shade to keep prying eyes out. Always draw all the shades or close the blinds at night to prevent intruders from looking inside to determine what you are doing, whether you are alone - or whether anyone is home.
Install a peephole in your doors. A peephole let’s you see who’s at your door without opening it. Once you open a door, you allow the person on the other side to gain entrance into your house. Even just opening the door a bit, can equal them busting through and into your home. If you don't already have a peephole in your front door, a professional can easily install one. Choose the type with a fish-eye lens. Its wide-angle view allows you to see almost everything - and everyone - on your doorstep before you throw open that deadbolt and the front door. Make sure your porch light is at least 40 watts to properly illuminate nighttime visitors. Secure gate latches and garage and shed doors with sturdy padlocks that are designed to withstand rain and freezing temperatures.
Remember that having good locks for your home is incredibly valuable, but locks alone don't protect you to the same degree as locks with a home security system. A home alarm will help add an additional level of protection. And not all home alarms are created equal, so do your homework and get the best system at your budget level.
