5 Most Common Points of Entry in Your Home

Worried that burglars might access your home and make away with your valuables?  Other than investing in high-tech security systems, the best way to keep your home safe from burglars is to understand the most common entry points and to secure them. Below are some of tips on how to secure your home.

1. Your Front Door

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While most people find it hard to believe that a burglar can actually walk into their house using their front door, it actually happens. 35% percent of burglary reports claim that the burglars accessed the house through the main door. This is actually the highest percentage compared to other entry points.

To prevent this from happening, you might want to start with finding another place to hide your spare key. Most burglars access the house using a key hidden right outside the door. In other cases, they won’t need the key to access your front door as they are experienced in lock picking. To secure your front door, you should do the following:

• Install deadbeat locks for extra security.
• Reinforce your door with a strike plate.
• Ensure your door is locked whenever you leave the house
• Install a door alarm.

2. Sliding Glass Doors and Back Doors

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The back door presents a good opportunity for burglars to break into your house without calling for your neighbor’s attention. Your back door or sliding doors that open to your backyard are usually the most vulnerable entry points. Most people lock the front door and forget about the back doors.

Here is how to secure your back doors:

• Install durable locks and strike plates
• Install wooden dowels that can be used to jam the sliding door track. This can slow them down.
• Lock all your doors every time you are not in the house.
• Install door alarms and glass breakage alarms for extra protection.

3. Your Garage

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At least 10% of all reported burglary cases indicate that the thugs gained access through the garage door. Most people who use the garage as an entry point usually leave the door leading to the garage unlocked.

To protect your garage:

• Install sturdy locks and strike plates.
• Ensure the lock on the garage door is high quality and strong. Consider padlocks with entry codes.
• Lock the door every time you leave the garage.
• Do not keep the garage door opener in your car when not using your car.
• Install timers to lock the door in case you leave the door open.

4. Windows on The First Floor

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Chances are that you won’t give much thought to your first-floor windows. At least 23% of burglary incidents occur through the first-floor windows. This is because windows are the weakest entry points and thus thieves take advantage of them.

To secure your windows:

• Consider installing reinforced glass, laminated glass or even bulletproof glass.
• Polycarbonate or Plexiglas windows are also a good option. They are stronger than normal glass and more impact resistance.
• Install window bars
• Install window alarm
• Install a deadbolt system for locking the doors and ensure you keep your windows closed whenever you’re not at home.

5. Second-floor windows

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Most people do not imagine that second-floor windows can be entry points for burglars. When all other attempts fail, it is normal for burglars to make an attempt on the second-floor windows. While this less likely to occur, your second-floor window is a possible entry point.

To protect your second-floor windows:

• Avoid keeping a ladder where it can be accessed easily.
• Ensure you keep windows close to trees closed when you’re not in the house or there is no one in the room.
• Install window alarms.