Home Security Audit Guide

The Nuts & Bolts

Doors, frames and locks are the interrelated basics of home security and are of equal importance when securing your home.

Remember, prevention is key. Keep the criminal out of your house and your property secure.

Door Security

Making outside access doors secure is an important step in protecting your home. Good, solid doors improve your chances in keeping burglars out. When buying a door, ask what the door is made of and how heavy it is. Look for doors without windows or doors that don’t have windows within arms reach of the inside lockset. If you already have solid doors, consider installing a peephole so you can look out to see who is at the door.

Sliding glass patio doors that are not protected can be lifted out of their tracks for an easy entrance.

The following can prevent the door from being lifted out of place:

• A hockey stick or other piece of wood can be placed in the frame to prevent the door from sliding open.
• A “pin” lock can be attached to the door that goes into the frame.
• Screws can be fastened into the track above the sliding door (when in a closed position.)

For Added Protection

For added protection, consider installing a u-shaped escutcheon plate around the lock set at the door’s edge. This will help to prevent entry from prolonged kicking or extreme pressure.

For maximum effectiveness, the plate should be secured from the inside with 1.9 cm (3/4 inch) screws that cannot be removed from the outside. This will likely require re-drilling the screw holes found on the escutcheon plate.

Charlie bars are designed to prevent lateral movement of patio doors. They are installed at a convenient height and create a visible deterrent to burglars. Charlie bars are available at most hardware and home improvement centres and are an excellent security option.

Locks

A secure lock is an important step in keeping a burglar out of your home. A deadbolt lock should be placed on all outside access doors including the door in from the garage. Here are a few important features you should consider when choosing deadbolt (check with your local hardware store or locksmith for more information.) Locks should be:

• pick-resistant
• drill-resistant
• saw resistant
• twist-resistant, with tapered hardened steel, or free spinning cylinder guard
• minimum of 2.5 cm (1 inch) long when thrown
• inter-locking bolts should be a minimum of 5.6 cm (2 1/4 inches).

Deadbolt locks that require a key from both sides are not recommended – they don’t allow for a quick exit in case of fire.

Frames

The doorframe is a critical yet often overlooked component of home security. Even the best locks are ineffective if the doorframe is weak. To make sure that your frame provides adequate security a security strike plate should be installed with screws that are at least 2 1/2 inches long. (Note: Security strike plates can be distinguished from conventional strike plates by the fact that they have four or more screw holes.)

A doorframe, door and lock work together to resist physical attack. A properly secured strike plate secures the frame and transmits the force of any attack to the door. Without reinforcement the door can be pried open by bending the frame or the door can be kicked in. A burglar is not concerned about damage and will use as much force as is necessary to open a door quickly.

For Added Protection

Sometimes a space exists between the door jamb (the piece of wood that the strike plate is screwed into) and the wall stud that supports the frame. For added protection, reinforce your door frame with a filler plate so that your lock cannot be pried open.

Windows

Windows can be smashed, pried open and lifted off their tracks. Deadbolt locks that can be reached from a window can give a burglar access to a home. The following measures are necessary to ensure that you have adequate window security.

Sliding Windows

Slider-style windows are those that slide side-to-side on a track. They can also be lifted up and out for installation and routine maintenance – a feature that leaves them vulnerable to break ins.

To prevent windows from being moved side-to-side:

• Cut a piece of wood the size of a broom handle or hockey stick to fit snugly between the outer window frame and the edge of the sliding portion of the window, or add a second lock to the sliding portion of the window. This type of lock can be found at hardware stores or installed by a locksmith/contractor.

To prevent the window from being lifted up and out:

• Cut a piece of wood to fill the gap between the top of the slider and the track above. The wood should be slightly smaller (about 1/8 inch) than the actual gap and be as long as the sliding portion of the window. Alternatively, two or three screws can be inserted into the portion of the upper track above the window that is used for ventilation (the window behind the screen).

Double Hung Windows

Double hung windows slide up and down on a track. They can be forced open by applying pressure to the lock area. The security of these types of windows can be greatly improved by adding a second lock and/or installing a metal pin or nail through both sides of the window. Specialized security pins designed specifically for this purpose can be found at hardware stores.

Casement/Awning Style Windows

Casement and awning-style windows are those that are opened by the operation of a roller-style (crank) handle. These windows are generally quite secure when properly locked with the factory installed locks. To improve the security, remove the handle and store it out of sight.

Sidelights

Sidelights are those windows commonly found next to doors. Any window within 100 cm (40 inches) of a door handle should be reinforced.

For Added Protection Consider Strengthening the Glass

Thieves often break windows to get at locks. This is particularly true of basement windows and the glass in and around doors.

Bars

Bars are sometimes used to secure windows and doors. If you choose bars as a security measure, make sure that:

• the bars are equipped with a quick release mechanism - consult your fire department for more information.
• the screws used to install the bars are not accessible from the outside.

Laminates (films)

To increase the strength of your window glass, contact a professional to install a security laminate film. Laminate professionals are listed under Glass Tinting & Coating in the Yellow Pages of your phone book.

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate (a rubberized, clear, unbreakable plastic) can also be used as a substitute for bars, provided that it is properly installed. Polycarbonate is available at home renovation centres and is listed under Plastics in the Yellow Pages of your phone book.