How to make your home locks tamper-resistant
Whether you live in a town, city, suburbs or countryside, there’s always a risk of unwelcome visitors in and around your home.
In Ireland, Garda intelligence systems have given some insight into the levels of this activity, with stats released last year. These stats cite burglary and related offences as increasing 15 per cent on the previous year.
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To protect your home, there’s lots of different types of door locks but not all locks are created equal. In fact, many can be compromised with a little skill and some portable tools. Here’s some checks to make to ensure your home locks are more tamper-resistant.
The Bolt Lock
Ensure the bolt extends at least one inch into the door jamb, as this will help if the lock is kicked or struck. Check if the hardened-steel pin on the inside is free-spinning. If it is, the steel will resist sawing on the bolt by spinning around, frustrating any cutting saw movement. If it’s a garage or shed lock, use a six-digit pin lock, rather than three or five.
The Strike Plate
This is the flat metal piece attached to the door frame where the bolt slots into. This should be made of heavy-duty steel or brass and should ideally be held in place with screws that are at least three inches long.
The Plug
This is the part of the lock where the key goes in. This should be made of solid forged brass. Avoid locks with brass-plated zinc, as this is softer and easier to compromise. It is wise to choose a lock that recesses into the door, as this prevents a potential burglar from simply shearing it off.
The Door
Sliding doors are a common watch-out for burglars since they often have a simple latch lock that can be easily defeated. To ensure greater safety, add an auxiliary lock that attaches to the door frame. On sliding doors, these commonly lock vertically on the top or bottom of the frame, rather than at the side.
Remember! Home door locks should be just one component of your home safety. Don’t forget to ‘check, lock and leave’ when heading out.
To protect your home and the belongings within, get a Home Insurance quote today from Liberty Insurance.
