Q&A for How to Burglarproof Your Doors

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Question

How do you burglarproof a bedroom door?

Saul Jaeger, MS
Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.

Saul Jaeger, MS

Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department

Expert Answer

You could always install some locks on the inside of the door. If someone breaks into your home and they have access to everything except your bedroom, they're probably going to skip the bedroom. Home invaders aren't trying to stick around super long, and they definitely don't want to make a ton of noise by trying to kick a door down. In that sense, a lock will probably do a lot of work.

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Question

What can I do to deter burglars if I already have locks?

Saul Jaeger, MS
Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.

Saul Jaeger, MS

Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department

Expert Answer

Exterior lights are a big help. Burglars typically want to work in private, so the less private you make the area outside of your home, the less likely they'll be to try and break into your home. Also, keep your bushes trimmed. If someone can hide in your hedges at a moment's notice, it will be an attractive home for a criminal.

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Question

Do those fake security cameras work?

Saul Jaeger, MS
Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.

Saul Jaeger, MS

Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department

Expert Answer

Yes. Criminals are lazy. They want things to be easy. Even something like a fake security camera can serve as a bit of a deterrence, and every little bit counts when it comes to deterring crime.

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Question

I'm renting and my landlord will not make my door secure. The hinges are on the outside and the strikerplate is crap. Is there any other way than a deadbolt to secure my door? I have been burglarized more than once.

Glenn Letteer

Community Answer

Installing a security pin on the "hinge edge" of your door will prevent the door from being removed if an individual were to remove the pins in the hinges. Once this is complete, install a deadbolt. You can do it yourself if your landlord won't do it.

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Question

There are people in our neighborhood stealing things from open garages. What do I do?

MP8

Community Answer

Well, for starters, make sure your garage is always closed if you are not pulling in or pulling out.

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Question

My door has hinges that don't come on either side. The door hangs on the wall. How can I be sure the door is safe? I have been burglarized six times and shot once. How can I keep the door closed?

Community Answer

Invest in a better door with more locks and possibly a home security system. Having all that happen means you're an easy target.

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Question

Twice when having cable TV installed in my apartment, the installer had to lay a fairly large cable through the sliding glass door. Although the door will close, it will not lock. What can be done?

Community Answer

You can drill a small hole through the wall for the cable to go through. Many cable companies have policies regarding where they can and can't run cable. It might be worth it to ask the company if they approve of the cable being run through the sliding glass door. If not, they should come take care of it. A lot of times you can hire the cable installer to take care of things like this on the side, on your dime. Some of them will even hook up free cable for the right price!

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Question

I live in a townhouse, and I have an alarm system, but I believe my home is being entered by someone that works in maintenance. I put in new locks, but I still think they are entering through the back.

Savannah Bowen

Community Answer

If you put in new locks, it is unlikely that anybody but maintenance is entering your home. If nothing is being taken, try to ignore the problem unless there is specific evidence that shows that somebody has broken into your house. If the problem persists, report that someone has been breaking into your house.

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Question

Is a padlock safe when burglarproofing my doors?

Community Answer

Likely not, the weak point will be the latch you add to the door, it will be just as weak if not weaker than the frame and deadbolts. If the padlock is installed on the exterior of the door, and the hinge is not installed right, they can simply remove the hinge with a screwdriver, or if the padlock is weak, they can cut through with bolt cutters.

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Question

What if my door can't be replaced?

Community Answer

Talks to your landlord, there may be some way to reinforce it. If not, take extra precautions and apply a heavy-duty lock.

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Question

How do you secure a door that opens out instead of in?

Community Answer

Add a cover or heavy duty pins which can’t be removed and reinforce the inner hinges.

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Question

What if I live in an apartment building and am not allowed to change or visibly modify my door?

Jsoncollins

Community Answer

You can use a portable door barricade or a security bar to reinforce your front door.

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