I know from personal experience that burglars and vandals have a
field day when they come across an exterior door unprotected by a
deadbolt. Even a door equipped with a quality lockset is an easy target
since the latch usually doesn’t extend far enough into the door frame
and the strike plate isn’t reinforced to withstand a sharp kick.
A well placed boot will tear the strike plate loose and splinter the
jamb, providing easy access to a house. Installing a deadbolt, in
addition to the lockset you already have, adds an extra layer of
protection to help solve the problem.
Buy a Quality Deadbolt
Avoid cheap, bargain locks when buying a deadbolt lock. There might
not appear to be much difference between a $10 deadbolt and a $30 model,
but there are. Stick with a name brand, such as Baldwin, Kwikset, or
Schlage.
If you’re willing to spend a little extra, you’ll get a deadbolt
that’s three times as strong as the economy model. Whichever brand you
choose, look for a hardened-steel bolt that extends at least an inch
into the doorjamb.
A lock with a thumb latch on the inside makes easy pickings on doors
that have glass panes or sidelights, since a burglar can simply break
the glass and unlock the door. A deadbolt with a key on the inside is a
more secure option, but it also can make it harder to open the door in
an emergency. That is a real concern in case of fire, especially if you
have young children.
In these cases, it’s a good idea to keep a key near the door but out
of sight and reach of someone on the outside, and to keep the inside key
in the lock when you’re home and remove it when you’re away. Some
building codes require that at least one entry have a thumb-turn latch
on the inside, so check your local codes before deciding on which type
to install.
Reinforce the Strike Plate
Even a quality deadbolt is only as good as the weakest link in the
chain, and that’s usually the door jamb. Some manufacturers reinforce
the bolt with a steel pocket that’s mounted in the jamb behind the
strike plate, but I like to go one step further.
Read Full Article Here: http://www.todayshomeowner.com/burglarproof-locks/
Related Blog: How to Install An Exterior Door
i remembered the advice to stay calm and try to entertain the baby so they don't know anything is wrong. as i was doing itsy bitsy spider, peekaboo and patty cake through the rear window i also counted my blessings that she was strapped safely in her seat, it wasn't hot out, we had cell phones, we were in the city and not in the middle of nowhere, etc. miraculously, dd enjoyed her silly mama's "show" for 20 min and didn't seem to notice anything was wrong. PHEW!
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