Door And Window Security

By fitting poor quality locks you are giving the burglar a hand in breaking into your apartment. If a burglar can’t break a lock in a few minutes or less they will probably give up and move on to an easier target – they don’t exactly want to get caught.

Securing Doors

You don’t need to fit several deadbolts to your apartment door to have a secure front door. You need to be able to get in and out of you apartment in a reasonable time so a couple of secure door locks will suffice. Here’s how to choose the perfect lock for your door:
  • Use a tight fitting solid wood or even metal door for all entrances into your apartment.
  • Install a heavy duty, quality deadbolt lock with a one inch throw bolt.
  • Install a heavy duty, quality doorknob-in-lock set with a dead latch mechanism.
  • Install a heavy duty, quality strike plate with 3 inch screws to penetrate into a wooden doorframe. This is the part of the door that holds the lock in place so you must by the strongest one that is available. Also have a qualified locksmith install it.
  • Install a wide angle 180 peephole.
  • If you have sliding doors install a charley bar. This is a bar that latches into the track and therefore keeps the door from sliding.
  • Follow the above recommendation for all back side or garage doors.

Securing Windows

The most important think when it comes to securing windows is to make sure they cannot be opened under any circumstances form the outside. Also make sure the window are locked with proper quality security window locks whenever you are not in your apartment.
  • Secure all accessible windows with secondary blocking devices.
  • Make sure the opening windows cannot open more than 6 inches for ventilation.
  • To prevent windows from being lifted out use anti lift devices.
  • Consider metal window security bars if you live in an especially high crime area. Beware, that these are sometimes illegal as they a possible fire hazard.