Beachwood Civic Association

Tips On Neighborhood Crime Prevention -- Part 3

Sep 25, 2004

Closing Your Doors To Burglary

Hinge Doors
The most common door type used is the hinge door. It's important that all exterior doors be of solid wood core construction or that steel clad doors be used. Avoid light gauge aluminum. Hollow core or composition board doors are not effective deterrents because they can be easily battered or bored. It's defeating the purpose of a good deadbolt lock to mount it on a hollow or foam core door.

A solid wood core front door should have a wide-angle viewer installed in it for easy viewing of visitors without opening the door. It's inexpensive and easy to install. Don't rely on a chain latch. It's not a security device.

If door hinges are exposed on the exterior of the door, non-removable hinge pins should be used.

Sliding Glass Doors
Sliding glass doors are easy targets for burglars and frequent points of entry. The locks they come with can easily be pried open. The doors can also be removed from their tracks unless they are properly secured.

There are different types of sliding glass door auxiliary locks that can be used, but key operated locks usually offer the best security --especially those using a deadbolt of pin mechanism.

A metal bar that attaches to the side frame and fits across the middle of the sliding door, running parallel to the floor, can be used to prevent opening of the door.

Jalousie Doors
These offer poor security because a burglar can easily gain entry. The best solution is to replace them with solid wood core doors. If you can't, the door can be covered on the inside with heavy gauge expanded metal mesh, thru-bolted to the door with carriage bolts.

Garage Doors
A good, case hardened padlock, on which both ends of the shackle engage, should secure your garage door.

If the garage door rolls on tracks, a hole should be drilled in the track so that the padlock can be utilized as a brace. Steel pins can also be used.

Electronic garage door openers with automatic locking devices offer good security.

The door leading from a garage to the house should also be a solid wood core door and have a good quality deadbolt lock on it. This door is another favored access point for burglars because it offers concealment and access to your tools.