Did Burglars Kick Their Way In? Call The Door Experts Fast
If your house was broken into and the burglar kicked in the front door, you have to act quickly to make your home safe. There are a lot of preventative and defensive measures that can go into your front door, and you may be missing out on security opportunities that would protect your home.
Kicking in the front door is the most common way that burglars enter the living space, so do these things after your break-in.
Replace the Door
Completely replace the door, with one from a store like Crawford Door Company. Don't try to repair the door or the locks. Choose a 14- or 16-gauge steel door for replacement. Any future intruder will not be able to kick this door in, and there are doors specially designed with a kick plate in the middle, to prevent intruders. Although these doors usually don't have any windows, there is still a variety of stylish designs for your home.
Eliminate Side Windows
If you have a door that has side trim with windows, replace the trim so it's solid wood. These windows are an easy target for burglars and intruders, because they can smash the area in and unlock the door.
Use a Deadbolt
A deadbolt has no access from the outside, and has a much stronger lock than the lock on the handle of a door. Use a deadbolt on all of the entrances around your home, including the new door. You may also want to ask the door professionals about custom locking options, like voice recognition or a keypad lock for the door.
Add Motion Lighting
Motion lighting around the door will alert you, neighbors and people passing by, of someone in the dark. Get a light that reaches your front porch and any hiding spaces in your yard, and use LED lights to get the brightest glow. This could be enough to scare someone off your porch.
You are going to sleep easier and feel better about leaving your home when you know that the door is burglar-proof. If you are still worried about safety, you may want to consider getting a home security system. Since the burglar has already seen the inside of your home once, they will know what you have, and what other ways to get in. Make sure you add locks to any windows that you have, and that the door installation company that comes to replace your current door examines others as well.