Always call the police if you find your previously closed door open when you come home, especially if it appears forced open. Lock it up, don't leave it unattended, be aware and watch out for your neighbors.
Add a Strike Plate
Strike plates protect the door jamb against friction. This metal plate helps to protect the door from being opened from the outside. Adding a strike plate is a great way to make your door secure.
Inward opening doors – A desk or other heavy furniture can be lined up to create an immovable brace or wedge. A chair is especially useful in creating a wedge underneath the doorknob.
One of the most secure measures you can take to prevent your door from getting kicked in is to use a door security bar. This steel bar is installed horizontally across the door and makes it nearly impossible for the door to be kicked in or broken down.
For a door that opens out, build a wall by stacking desks or propping a table up in order to block the intruder's ability to see inside the room once the door is opened. For a door that swings in, push heavy furniture against it, prop a chair under the handle or use door jams.
Deadbolt door locks are the most secure type of key lock and are usually used on a home's exterior door. Available in single- and double-cylinder styles, deadbolts are rated according to their strength from Grade 1 to Grade 3. A Grade 1 is the highest grade and provides the most security.
It's crucial to practice safe habits because it only takes a few minutes for an experienced burglar to go through your things. Locking your doors should always be a priority if you want to ensure you and your belongings are safe.
While it may be customary for homes to use exterior doors that open inward, that isn't the only option available. Current design trends now include residential front doors that open outward as well.
One particular reason burglars attempt the front door is because they know many homeowners leave spare keys hidden about. And, if there are no hidden keys, and your front door lock is weak, the burglar can still walk right up and kick your front door open, pick the lock, or easily remove it from the hinges.
Visible Bending or Warping of Your Lock, Door, or Frame
Twisted or bent metal deadbolts or latches. Warped wood on doors or door frames. Splintered wood on the ground around the doorway. Paint circles near the lock fixture, as if it was loosened, moved, or retightened out of place.
Glue or tape a hair across the door and the jamb. If the door is opened the hair will be pulled off.
People with OCD have been known to repeatedly check locks to ensure that they are properly bolted. The person who checks knows that they have checked the lock, but feels it is important to check again just in case.
CR's take: The Medeco Maxum 11TR503-19 is the strongest deadbolt across all of our lock categories. It's top-notch for drilling, withstands kick-ins very well, and is designed in a way that makes it quite difficult to pick.
In the world of lock manufacturers, the name Abloy holds an exalted reputation. Their series of Abloy Protect 2 locks are near unpickable due to two key factors. The locks have advanced manipulation resistance, making them impossible to be picked.
A reinforced steel door is one of the most secure types of front doors you can buy. They're made with thick, heavy-duty steel that's designed to withstand a lot of force. And, they usually have multiple locks to keep intruders out.
Front door: 34% of burglars twist the doorknob and walk right in. First-floor windows: 23% use a first-floor open window to break into your home. Back door: 22% come in through the back door. Garage doors: 9% gain entrance through the garage.
The best way to do this is to add a layer of steel to prevent the door frame from splitting. The steel should be placed over the door jamb, the flat surface that runs vertically up either side of the door frame and which houses the strike plate.
Use Security Film Over Glass Inserts
Burglars will sometimes break the glass in order to unlock the door and break into the home. Security film will help to reinforce the glass, making it more difficult to break.
While the darkness tends to cause apprehensive feelings, most burglars actually prefer to break in during the day. FBI.org tells us that home break-ins are more common in daylight hours.
Since picking a lock requires a specific skill set to be successful, most burglars damage or remove doors and windows to gain entry when locked because it is faster and easier for them than using tools.