Burglar-Resistant Homes
There are a number of measures that homeowners can take to ensure that their homes are not attractive to burglars.
According to a survey, burglars tend to enter home through the following locations:
- 81% enter through the first floor
- 34% enter through the front door
- 23% enter through a first-floor window
- 22% enter through the back door
- 9% enter through the garage
- 4% enter through the basement
- 4% enter through an unlocked entrance
- 2% enter through a storage area
- 2% enter from somewhere on the second floor
Exterior Doors
- Doors should be made of steel or solid-core wood construction. Hollow-core wood doors are more easily broken than heavy, solid-core doors.
- Doors should be free of signs of rot, cracks and warping.
- Doors should be protected by quality deadbolt locks. Chain locks are not adequate substitutes for deadbolts, although chain locks may be used as additional protection.
- If a mail slot is present, it should be equipped with a cage or box. Mail slots that are not equipped with cages or boxes have been used by burglars to enter homes. Burglars can insert a contraption made of wire and cord into the mail slot and use it to open the lock from the inside, if no box or cage is present.
- If a door is equipped with glass panes, they should be installed far from the lock. Otherwise, burglars can smash the glass and reach through to unlock the door.
- Spare keys should not be hidden in obvious locations. Burglars are very good at finding keys that homeowners believe are cleverly hidden. The best place for a spare key is in the house of a trusted neighbor. If keys must be hidden near the door, they should not be placed in obvious locations, such as the door mat, rock or planter.
- A peephole can be installed in doors so homeowners can see who is on their doorstep before they open the door.
- Homeowners should consider installing bump-resistant locks on their doors. “Bumping is a technique that can open almost any standard lock with less effort than is required by lock-picking. This technique uses “bump keys,” which are standard house keys with slight modifications. Lock companies, including Schlage, Primus and Medeco, manufacture a number of locks that offer some bump-resistance.
Pet Doors
- Pet doors can be used by burglars to enter homes. Some burglars have reached through pet doors in order to unlock the door. It is advisable to not have a pet door, but if one is necessary, it should be as small as possible and installed far from the lock.
- a crafty burglar may convince or coerce a small child to crawl through a pet door and unlock the door. Also, some burglars are children.
- Electronic pet doors are available that open only when the pet, equipped with a signaling device in its collar, approaches the door. These doors are designed to keep stray animals out of the home, and may provide protection against burglars, as well.
Sliding Glass Doors
- They should be equipped with locks on their tops and bottoms.
- They should not be able to be lifted from their frames.
- A cut-off broom handle, or similar device, can be laid into the door track to prevent it from being opened all the way.
Illumination
- Lights should be installed on the exterior of all four sides of the house. Burglars prefer darkness so they cannot be seen by neighbors or passersby.
- When building occupants are not home, a few lights should be left on inside.
- It is helpful to install exterior lights that are activated by motion sensors. Burglars that are suddenly illuminated may flee.
Windows
- All windows should be composed of strong glass, such as laminated glass, and be in good operating order.
- They can be installed withbars, grilles, grates, or heavy-duty wire screening. Barred windows must be equipped with a quick-release mechanism so occupants can quickly escape during a fire.
- Windows should not be hidden by landscaping or structures. If landscaping or structures cannot be moved, lighting can be installed around the windows.
Landscaping and Yard
- Shrubs and trees should not obscure the view of entrances. Shielded entrances can provide cover for burglars while they attempt to enter the residence.
- Fences are helpful burglar deterrents, although they should not be difficult to see through.