Whether you want to protect your home from a burglar or a disgruntled ex partner who is determined to return for his share of the contents, door security is paramount.

When it comes to making your home burglar proof, there are many steps you can take to deter thieves but a determined burglar will always find a way in. Fortunately most burglars are not determined but are opportunist. An opportunist burglar will choose properties that appear easy to break into over properties that present a challenge.

Studies show that most burglars will enter a home via an open window or door or a concealed door. Concealed doors can be garage doors that lead directly into the house or doors shielded by garden, trees, fences etc.

How burglars break in through your front door.

• Most novice burglars probably think learning how to pick locks is the way to progress in their career of crime. But even with a step-by- step guide on ‘how to pick a lock’ it takes a lot of time, study and practice, which is why despite wanting to learn how to pick locks, less than 7% of burglars pick locks as a means of entering a property.
• It is increasingly the case that burglars have keys to the property they are burgling. The burglars may have had these cut from those given to tradesmen or neighbours or other.
• Many burglars will attempt to break house door locks by drilling them out using power drills or prying them off with pliers and pipe wrenches.
• If the front door has glass panels a burglar might break one and reach inside and unlock the door from the inside.

How to prevent burglars or an ex breaking in through your front door

Breaking up is hard to do and so is breaking in when you have a 5-Lever Mortice deadlock and key control system in place. Both will deter your ex partner or a burglar from breaking in while you’re out.

A decent lock such as the industry standard 5-Lever Mortice Deadlock (BS 3621) will deter most opportunist burglars which is why most home contents insurers insist you have 5-Lever Mortice Locks (BS2621) fitted to your front doors for them to insure you.

5-Lever Mortice Deadlocks are strong enough to resist drilling, sawing, picking and they are force resistant. They also require locking internally and externally with a key which prevents burglars from being able to unlock your door from the inside by breaking a pane of glass and reaching inside.

How to prevent a burglar or an ex getting your keys copied

It is quite easy for people to get keys copied and return to take or trash your possessions, or to pass the keys to potential burglars. You can prevent your keys from being copied by fitting secure locks that use Master Key Suites and restricted keys (key control).

How does the Master Key Suite (key control) system work?

Key control is a system of controlling who can copy the keys to your home or office. The blanks for the key control system can’t be obtained from most regular shops or locksmiths making it very difficult to have them copied. Restricted keys cannot be copied without the proper authorization. Given how often staff lose keys it is great news that they can’t be copied when found by unscrupulous people.

The master key suite system goes one step further and has a whole suit of keys that can open one door, many doors or all doors to provide to employees or tradesmen based on which doors you wish them to have access to.

The master key suite may cost a little more initially but has the potential to protect your property or business from thousands of pounds in losses due to key copying related theft.