Locksmith Tips: Top 10 Ways To Prevent Home Break-Ins

Home break-ins are one of the few growth industries emerging from this down economy. According to a new study from the FBI, the number of burglaries rose sharply last year. The latest edition of the FBI’s annual publication Crime in the United States, also reports that victims of property crime lost more than $17-billion in 2008. Unfortunately, this year has the potential to be even worse. With Lawrence Mishel, President of the Economic Policy Institute, predicting that the national unemployment/underemployment rate will rise to 33% in 2010, the odds that you may be the victim of a break-in are increasing, too.

Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to prevent your home from becoming another crime statistic. Police around the country recommend ten tips to protect your family and valuables:

1. Install a solid core or metal door at every entrance point. This is a critical first step since the majority of break-ins are through front or back doors.
2. Purchase a quality, ANSI-rated knob-in-lock set with deadbolt mechanism. Top brands to consider include Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Schlage.
3. Use a heavy-duty deadbolt with a one-inch throw bolt and upgrade to a heavy-duty strike plate with 3-inch screws into the frame. This helps prevent the most common method of forced entry: simply kicking in the door.
4. Change or rekey the door locks whenever you move into a new house or apartment.
5. Secure sliding glass doors by installing metal track blockers / locks. The latches on sliding glass doors are notoriously vulnerable to break-ins.
6. Leave a light on. It’s important to make your home appear occupied by using timers on lights, radios and televisions.
7. Windows should have secondary locking devices because latches are easy to force.
8. Add timers or motion detectors to exterior lighting. This is especially critical at the rear of the house.
9. Get an alarm. Studies show most burglars will bypass any home they believe has a alarm system.
10. Be a good neighbor. Joining a neighborhood watch is one of the most effective ways to protect your home.

Burglars are opportunistic predators looking for unoccupied homes with easy access, lots of cover and clear escape routes. They will usually bypass a house if it appears to require too much effort or more skills than they possess. Not all break-ins will be stopped; however, the few simple steps outlined here can markedly increase your home’s security. While most of these recommendations can be implemented by a reasonably handy homeowner, it’s smart to call in a professional locksmith if you have any doubts.