Choosing Security Door Locks: How to Make Burglars Move On

Here's the good news about burglars: most of them aren't criminal masterminds. They're not cracking safes or hacking alarm systems. They're looking for the easy house: the unlocked window, the flimsy door, the spare key under the mat with a big "Welcome!" printed on top.

Their tools are usually as simple as their methods. A screwdriver to pry open a sliding door. A patio chair to reach an open window. That's about it.

Which means a few simple upgrades can make a big difference. Make your home harder to get into, and most would-be intruders will skip it and move on. And it all starts with choosing the right security door locks.

The short version:

• Every exterior door needs a solid deadbolt, including the door from the garage.
• Secure the strike plate with long screws. It's the weak spot most people miss.
  
• Brace sliding glass doors so they can't be pried open or lifted out.
  
• Never hide a spare key under the mat.
  
• Light up the outside of your house, and keep records of your valuables.
  

Choosing Security Door Locks for the Front Door

Start with the door itself. The strongest lock in the world won't help if the door is a hollow-core pushover. Exterior doors should be solid wood (at least 1 3/8 inches thick), metal or fiberglass with a solid core. If yours sounds hollow when you knock on it, it's time for a new one.

Add a deadbolt. Your knob lock alone won't cut it. Every exterior door needs a deadbolt, including the door from the garage into the house. When you shop:

• Look for a 1-inch throw. That's how far the bolt extends into the door frame when locked.

• Check the grade. Many locks carry an ANSI/BHMA rating; Grade 1 is the toughest, and Grade 2 is solid for most homes.

• Choose a single-cylinder deadbolt, with a key outside and a thumb-turn inside. (More on why below.)
  

Beef up the strike plate. Here's the secret most people miss: the weakest part of most doors isn't the lock; it's the door frame. When someone kicks a door in, the bolt usually holds, but the frame splits.

Replace the short screws in your strike plate with 3-inch screws that reach all the way into the wall stud. It's a 10-minute, few-dollar fix that makes a huge difference.

Check the hinges. If your door's hinges are on the outside, someone could pop out the pins and lift the whole door off. Replace them with security hinges that have non-removable pins.

Mind the glass. If your door has a glass panel, or a window within arm's reach of the lock, a burglar could break the glass and reach in to unlock it.

Add a decorative security grille with tamper-proof screws, or cover the glass with shatter-resistant security film or polycarbonate glazing. And keep a curtain or shade over it so prying eyes can't see in.

Single vs. Double Cylinder Deadbolts

• Single-cylinder deadbolt: opens with a key on the outside and a thumb-turn on the inside. This is the safest choice for most homes.

• Double-cylinder deadbolt: needs a key on both sides. It sounds more secure, but it can trap your family inside during a fire if no one can find the key. If you have one, replace it with a single-cylinder lock (and check your local building codes, which may restrict them).

• Privacy lock: the push-button lock on bedroom and bathroom doors. It has a small hole on the outside so you can open it in an emergency with a special key or a straightened paper clip. Great for keeping little brothers out; not for keeping burglars out.
  

Should You Get a Smart Lock?

Smart locks and keypad deadbolts let you unlock the door with a code, a phone or a fingerprint. They're especially handy for families:

• No more hidden spare keys. Give each family member their own code.

• Let in the dog walker or a relative with a temporary code, then delete it.

• Auto-lock so the door locks itself, even when the kids forget.
  

A few tips: choose one that also meets the deadbolt standards above, change the batteries before they die (most will warn you), and keep a physical key as a backup.

How to Secure a Sliding Glass Door

Sliding glass doors are a favorite with burglars, because their basic latches are easy to pry open. Fortunately, they're also easy to secure:

1.     Brace the track. Lay a metal security bar or a cut-to-fit wooden dowel (an old broom handle works) in the bottom track, so the door can't slide open even if the latch is forced.

2.     Stop it from being lifted out. Determined thieves can lift some sliding doors right off their tracks. Install anti-lift blocks, or a few screws in the top track, so the door can't be raised.

3.     Add a pin lock. Buy one at the hardware store, or make your own: drill a hole through the top of the inside door frame and partway into the outside frame, at a slight downward angle. Slide in a nail or eyebolt, leaving the head exposed so you can pull it out easily from inside. A burglar can't remove it without breaking the glass.

4.     Reinforce the glass with security film or polycarbonate glazing.

Who's There? Peepholes and Video Doorbells

Can you see who's knocking before you open the door?

If not, add a peephole with a wide-angle fish-eye lens.

You can have a locksmith install one when they put in your new deadbolt, or do it yourself in under an hour.

Or go high-tech with a video doorbell, which lets you see (and talk to) whoever's at the door from your phone, even when you're not home.

Rethink the "Oops" Key

Is your spare key under the doormat? In the mailbox? Under the potted plant by the door? Congratulations, you've hidden it in the first three places a burglar will look.

Give it to a trusted neighbor instead, put it in a combination lockbox, or switch to a keypad lock and skip the spare altogether.

And if you've just moved into a new home, rekey or replace the locks. You have no idea how many copies of the old keys are floating around.

Light It Up

The last thing a burglar wants is to be seen.

• Install motion-sensor lights around the outside of your house, mounted high enough that no one can unscrew the bulbs.

• Keep your porch light bright, and leave it on at night.

• Put indoor lights on timers set to different schedules when you're away, so the house looks lived-in.

• Leave a radio or TV on when you're gone for more than a few hours.
  
• Close the blinds at night, so no one can see who's home (or what's worth taking).

• Post a "Beware of Dog" sign. Whether you have a Rottweiler or a Chihuahua with attitude, it can give a burglar second thoughts.
  

And don't forget the outbuildings: lock gates, sheds and detached garages with sturdy, weather-resistant padlocks.

Keep a Home Inventory

Door Lock FAQs

What's the best type of lock for a front door? A single-cylinder deadbolt with a 1-inch throw, ideally rated ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 or 2, plus a strike plate secured with 3-inch screws.

Are double-cylinder deadbolts safer? Not for most families. They can trap you inside during a fire if the key isn't handy. A single-cylinder deadbolt is the safer choice.

How do I secure a sliding glass door? Put a bar or dowel in the bottom track, add anti-lift blocks or screws in the top track, and install a pin lock.

Are smart locks secure? Good ones can be as secure as a traditional deadbolt. Look for one that meets deadbolt grading standards, and keep a physical key as a backup.

Should I change the locks when I move? Yes. Rekeying is inexpensive, and you'll know exactly who has a key.

Less Stuff, Easier Inventory

Making a home inventory is a lot faster when you're not cataloging 30 years of stuff. My book Room by Room helps you decide what to keep, what to let go and how to do it without the guilt.

Keep Going

Keep your home and family safe with these related guides:

•      Home Safety Guide: Protect Your Family & Prepare for Emergencies: Everything you need to keep your family safe at home.

•      Protect Your Home Against Intruders: More ways to keep burglars out.

•      How to Organize Financial Records: Keep important papers safe and findable.

•      Building a Home Toolkit: The tools you'll need to install that new deadbolt.

•      Entryway Organizing Tips: Make your front door work harder.

•      Car Insurance for Families: Make sure your coverage fits your family.

•      Garage Organizing: Secure and organize the garage.

•      Home Maintenance Guide: Seasonal upkeep that keeps your home in shape.