With the Lunar New Year holiday approaching, many families are planning long vacations and trips back to their hometowns. To ensure peace of mind during your absence, it’s essential to secure your home before leaving. Here are some tips to fortify your doors and deter potential intruders:
1. Assess and Upgrade Your Doors
Install sturdy doors: Ensure your front and back doors are made of robust materials such as solid wood, hardwood core, metal, or fiberglass. If your doors are hollow, replace them immediately. A simple knock on the door will help you identify if it’s hollow (a hollow door will have a cardboard core covered with a wood veneer).
Tip: Consider installing doors that open outward rather than inward, as this provides additional security against forced entry. Don’t forget to secure the hinges as well!
Avoid doors with glass panels: If your current doors have glass panels, it’s best to replace them. Glass panels can be a security risk, as intruders can break the glass to unlock the door. If you insist on having glass panels, install an additional security screen on the outside, and avoid placing doors with glass panels near the entrance to prevent intruders from reaching in and unlocking the door.
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2. Focus on Door Locks
Never leave your house unlocked, even during the festive season. It only takes a few minutes for an intruder to enter and ransack your home. Always secure your doors with locks, and consider the following enhancements:
Install door latches: All entry doors should have a latch bolt lock built into the doorknob. Opt for a quality lock and ensure the bolt extends at least 2.5 cm when engaged. If you’re unsure about installing locks, it’s best to hire a professional locksmith to ensure proper installation.
Add a deadbolt: For added security, install a deadbolt lock next to the doorknob. Deadbolts are more resistant to forced entry and cannot be opened from the outside, even if the intruder can see the lock. This makes it much harder for burglars to gain entry.
Secure sliding doors: If you have sliding doors, install locks at the top and bottom of the door, and reinforce the glass with polycarbonate for added security. Additionally, consider installing a bar or stick in the door track to prevent the door from being forced open.
3. Fortify Your Home’s Entry Points
Protect your lock cylinders: Burglars often target lock cylinders, as they can be manipulated, pried, or drilled. To safeguard your locks, install protective collars or escutcheons around the cylinders. These collars are typically secured with wood screws and deter intruders from tampering with the lock.
If your locks already have protective collars, there’s no need to install additional ones. However, if they’re missing or inadequate, purchase and install new ones for added peace of mind during the holidays.
Replace flimsy strike plates: The metal plate around your door latch should be sturdy and secured with 7.5 cm long screws. If it’s weak or thin, replace it with a stronger one immediately.
Reinforce external door hinges: External door hinges are vulnerable to tampering. To secure them, remove at least two screws from the center of each hinge (on both sides) and replace them with non-removable hinge pins. If the hinges are not external, reinforce them by screwing 7.5 cm long screws into the door frame and jamb.
Secure the door frame: Most door frames are simply attached to the wall, providing a potential entry point for intruders. To fortify the frame, screw 7.5 cm long screws into the door frame and jamb along its length.
4. Consider Peephole Installation
Peepholes, also known as door viewers, allow you to see who’s outside without opening the door. When installing a peephole, choose a model that provides a wide-angle view and ensures privacy, preventing outsiders from seeing into your home.
By implementing these simple tips, you can rest assured that your home will remain secure during the Lunar New Year holiday, even when you’re not around.
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