Securing entry doors? what's yalls ideas?
- Thread starter lsurip
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RegeSullivan
Well-known member
One suggestion... Before you put a lot of time/money into securing entry points make sure there isn't a weaker point. As an extreme example, a block building in the middle of nowhere with a heavy duty steel entry door and no windows is easily breached by a 10 lb hand held sledge...
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Gotcha640
Well-known member
What sort of attack are you hoping to defend against? Kid with a lockpick? Machine guns? Opportunistic handle jigglers?
Kaizen
Well-known member
first old basement windows and old wood windows. simple 16 penny nails drilled through the wood is a good deterent.
then look at anything outside a theif can use like a ladder or ax to get in.
on my doors I have slage locks and deadbolts and used the 3 inch screws to make kick in harder. I had a two piece metal cover before that attached to the frame and door with security screws and when the door is closed it was like a mortise and tenon preventing anything from being stuck in the lock. haven't seen it recently when ilooked
everyone has broken into their own house when forget the keys so make sure those are done.
like said before you spend big bucks on security doors or screens tighten up everything else. used to be a show on something like to catch a thief where a family was told a thief would rob them in the next few weeks and then they would video what the guy did. if you can find that show watch every episode. remember he broke into a repair garage one time hiding in the trunk of a car that was left there for an oil change. they pulled it in the garage and everyone went home. he had the whole night to do what he wanted.
then look at anything outside a theif can use like a ladder or ax to get in.
on my doors I have slage locks and deadbolts and used the 3 inch screws to make kick in harder. I had a two piece metal cover before that attached to the frame and door with security screws and when the door is closed it was like a mortise and tenon preventing anything from being stuck in the lock. haven't seen it recently when ilooked
everyone has broken into their own house when forget the keys so make sure those are done.
like said before you spend big bucks on security doors or screens tighten up everything else. used to be a show on something like to catch a thief where a family was told a thief would rob them in the next few weeks and then they would video what the guy did. if you can find that show watch every episode. remember he broke into a repair garage one time hiding in the trunk of a car that was left there for an oil change. they pulled it in the garage and everyone went home. he had the whole night to do what he wanted.
schmelpboy
Banned
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I won't give away too much about locations, but here's my security;
Double gated driveway with electric gates. 3000lb Maglock on said gates
Both entry doors are steel reinforced frame with custom built oak doors. Again, maglocks on each. Security cameras all over the property. Alarm system in the house.
The windows on my house are only accessible by ladder, so I'm not going to bother with those. Besides, the alarm system covers the windows. If someone is dumb enough to still try to get in the house, they're going to have a heckuva time getting back out.
Besides, I spent most of my money on security; Nothing in the house is worth stealing now.
Double gated driveway with electric gates. 3000lb Maglock on said gates
Both entry doors are steel reinforced frame with custom built oak doors. Again, maglocks on each. Security cameras all over the property. Alarm system in the house.
The windows on my house are only accessible by ladder, so I'm not going to bother with those. Besides, the alarm system covers the windows. If someone is dumb enough to still try to get in the house, they're going to have a heckuva time getting back out.
Besides, I spent most of my money on security; Nothing in the house is worth stealing now.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
RunninOnEmpty
Well-known member
For locks, make sure to avoid garbage like Master and Kwikset and go for good stuff like Abloy. See BosnianBill's videos on Youtube - his channel is called "LockTube" and it's informative.
But mainly you're going to have to worry about the door being broken, or worse, windows smashed. Very few thieves bother with lock picking. But I would still make sure to go with a good lock. Reinforce that door frame as much as you can. But you can't do much with windows.
But mainly you're going to have to worry about the door being broken, or worse, windows smashed. Very few thieves bother with lock picking. But I would still make sure to go with a good lock. Reinforce that door frame as much as you can. But you can't do much with windows.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Especially on the unlit back side !
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Hinges and strike plates are the weak points. Both are typically attached to a 3/4" thick piece of wood. Ask any LEO who is on an "entry team" how long it takes to open a door with a ram !
Only commercial doors have steel jams, but them add a couple of dead bolt, one low and one high and they are a lot more difficult to get through, either with a ram or a lock pick !
Only commercial doors have steel jams, but them add a couple of dead bolt, one low and one high and they are a lot more difficult to get through, either with a ram or a lock pick !
jwdominick
Well-known member
simple as adding one of these to the door http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server3...ithWesson__41520.1405428962.1280.1280.jpg?c=2
My grand parents have had a similar one since I was little, in one of the worst neighborhoods around.... not a single break in while other have.
My grand parents have had a similar one since I was little, in one of the worst neighborhoods around.... not a single break in while other have.
jwdominick
Well-known member
On a more serious note, while my "items" are valuable to me, I do carry insurance. Nothing I own cannot be replaced. More so, lock really only keep honest people honest. If someone is determined, they will enter and take what they want. In reality, I am such a shrewd shopper, i'd likely make money on anything stolen and replaced by insurance..
However my stance also includes: do it while I or my family is home and it'll likely be your last mistake.
However my stance also includes: do it while I or my family is home and it'll likely be your last mistake.
Dave in Mass
Well-known member
Or a better neighborhood....
kd3pc
Well-known member
if the framing around your door, and what the door frame is anchored? to.....is normal construction, you will be lucky if there are more than a dozen 10 penny nails holding the whole shooting match together.
Locks are useless if the door can be compromised with a number 11 boot. Again the strike plate and hinges might have a half dozen 1/2" screws, if you are lucky.
That is why you see the metal gates attached with 1/2 hardware through bolted to backing plates on the inside of the entry. ****-ugly, but it does offer some protection.
Locks are useless if the door can be compromised with a number 11 boot. Again the strike plate and hinges might have a half dozen 1/2" screws, if you are lucky.
That is why you see the metal gates attached with 1/2 hardware through bolted to backing plates on the inside of the entry. ****-ugly, but it does offer some protection.
DonPowers
Well-known member
Motion sensing lights make a good deterrent at night. Motion lights with built in camera are even better.
Like others have said, you are not going to stop a determined / experienced thief but you can make it easier for law enforcement to catch them.
On my garage, I put in a commercial steel entry door & frame with commercial grade lockset & deadbolt. Windows are 15 ft above grade and the overhead doors are insulated metal. If someone wants in, they can just ram the overhead doors. My cameras however, should catch the action.
The house door strikers are securely screwed to the frames but they can break any window to get in. Again, cameras should catch the action.
As I mentioned in a another thread, set up a camera or two for photographing vehicles. Local law enforcement typically have a pretty good idea of who the hooligans in your area are. A time stamped photo or video of someone in a hoodie may not be enough for probable cause but along with time stamped vehicle photos or video, they may have a better chance of bringing someone in for questioning.
Then you always have the big bad dog option.
Like others have said, you are not going to stop a determined / experienced thief but you can make it easier for law enforcement to catch them.
On my garage, I put in a commercial steel entry door & frame with commercial grade lockset & deadbolt. Windows are 15 ft above grade and the overhead doors are insulated metal. If someone wants in, they can just ram the overhead doors. My cameras however, should catch the action.
The house door strikers are securely screwed to the frames but they can break any window to get in. Again, cameras should catch the action.
As I mentioned in a another thread, set up a camera or two for photographing vehicles. Local law enforcement typically have a pretty good idea of who the hooligans in your area are. A time stamped photo or video of someone in a hoodie may not be enough for probable cause but along with time stamped vehicle photos or video, they may have a better chance of bringing someone in for questioning.
Then you always have the big bad dog option.
There's some good advice in here. One thing to remember is that things like locks and deadbolts only slow an intruder and do NOT completely stop forced entry. I have a lot of experience with breaching and forced entry, as well as physical security measures to deter entry or theft. Lighting is a huge deterrent. Other than the basics already mentioned, be able to deter long enough to identify that forced entry is occurring so you can put a few holes in the son of a ^}%[+. If someone wants in, they are getting in. I have made sure through possession of firearms (and lots of training) if someone comes into my home unwanted they better bring their f-ing "A" Game. Sorry to ramble on, but there are so many variables here. Complacency is huge too. For all those that have alarms, so many forget to arm, close garage doors, lock doors after letting pets out, etc... Something to think about!
My house was robbed in 2013. Over 50k worth of stuff was taken. The front door was kicked in and crowbarwd to the point where it was locked shut unable to open it or ublock it even. They got ib through a cheap side door in the laundry room through a crowbar. my advice is to anchor in a steel or Ti plate over the jam to not allow a crowbar in there. Then plexi for the windows.