February 17th, 2010 by blogeditor | Posted in Secure your home, Tips to keep your home safe
Sliding Patio Door
Entry through a patio door is very common. Burglars will often go undetected at the back of the house, away from the view of the road. Especially if you have a security door at the front of the house the chances are a burgular will try the back. Unless your patio door is fitted with a multi-locking system, its best to fit extra locks. Most locks are push to lock and key to open and are easy to use. Consult the installer or manufacturer with any questions about drilling into the door or frame.
Some patio doors can be lifted off their track. If the door can be lifted more then 5mm you should consider screwing wood blocks into the channel above the opening door to prevent this. You could also try and anti-lift device which are available from a locksmith.
As discussed in earlier blogs, you will be best of installing an alarm system. You should make sure there are door contacts on all the doors, including patio door and have a sensor facing the patio door.
Tags:
patio door,
security,
tips
December 7th, 2009 by blogeditor | Posted in Secure your home, Tips to keep your home safe
Obviously it’s important to have a good security door that will keep burglars out, but in my opinion a good security system is the best deterrent. Most thieves are opportunist thieves and will only break into your home if the opportunity presents itself.
The met police note that a burglar will select his target because it offers him the best opportunity to carry out his crime undetected and with the fewest number of obstacles in his way. Obviously, if you have an alarm system which can been seen from the outside, the chance is that a burglar will try someone else.
What are your thoughts? Do you think a security system is enough to keep a burglar out your home? Do you think a fake alarm box would do the trick?
December 2nd, 2009 by blogeditor | Posted in Security Doors, Steel Door
High Security Doors
There are 3 ways a burglar will break in using your back or front door:
- First they will try the locks. If you have weak locks or if the door is just left closed but not locked (effectively, on the latch), burglars will find it easy to break in. This will also be their first port of call. At this point if they can’t break the locks they might give up. Matadoors use a MUL-T-LOCK 4-way locking mechanism. This lock sends steel bars in 4 directions through the door and into the frame. The door is locked using 1 key which cannot be copied unless you have a special card that was given to you at the point of sale. Using the 4-way lock will prevent anyone from being able to break in this way.
- They will kick the door in. If you have a flimsy door it is possible to kick a hole straight through it, alternatively the door can just be kicked in because if it is done with great force the locks will be broken. Matadoors security doors are made of two thick sheets of steel with a grid work of steel bars within. This makes it completely impossible to kick it in or to make a hole in.
- They will be able to kick in the frame and both the door and the frame will be broken down. Matadoors use a steel frame which is attached directly to the brick work using concrete. The metal bars from the lock then go through the door and directly into frame securing all sides.
November 29th, 2009 by blogeditor | Posted in Secure your home, Tips to keep your home safe
House
1. PUT YOURSELF IN A BURGULARS SHOES
Ask a friend who isn’t too familiar with your house to walk around it with you and identify all the weak points. Start outside and work inside, ask yourself how would you get into your house if you had forgotten your key?
A burglar might be observing your house so will look for a break in a pattern, if you go away make sure to ask a neighbour to put your rubbish bin out. Make sure you have your lights going on and off on a timer and if at all possible, try and organise someone to come in to open and close your curtains. If your house looks ‘lived in’ it might deter a burglar.
2. DETERANTS
A dog is always a good deterrent but should you not have one, then make sure you have an alarm on the house. Noise is the best deterrent, so if a burglar thinks they might set off the alarm or start a dog barking, they will probably try your neighbours first!
3. SECURITY DOORS
Illegal entry through the front door occurs more frequently than all other points of entry put together. A secure door is nothing without a solid frame. By fitting a Matadoors steel security door you will be making sure that the door, the frame and the locking mechanism will keep any burglar out. If not, the next best thing is to make sure that your door frame is safely in place by screwing in some extra long screws directly through the brick work. Try and reinforce your door so that they can’t kick it in and add additional locking mechanisms. Make sure you have an eye viewer or small window and a chain so you can check who is at your door before you open it.
4. SECURING YOUR WINDOWS
A third of all burglars will use the window, but burglars will only break windows as a last resort or by accident as this runs the risk of attracting attention. Try and change any old windows to double glazed units in order to make them harder to break. Make sure you lock your windows at all time – a burglar will often stick his hand through a small window in order to open a larger one which they can climb in through. Try and make sure your locks can be seen from the outside If possible you could fit metal bars inside all your windows.
5. HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY
Make sure people can’t see into your house. An expensive TV or equipment on show might make you a target. Make sure to draw your curtains at night. Most burglars will go on to sell whatever they have stolen so make sure you have a detailed inventory of your valuables and if possible have them marked with a serial number or your postcode.
October 16th, 2009 by blogeditor | Posted in Security Doors
A customer came to our showroom a few days ago and asked us to explain to her what made a Security Door worthwhile. That got us thinking that many people are probably not aware of how a Security Door can benefit the protection of homes and businesses. With a multi-lock system installed within a steel door, one key turn (which locks the door on multiple sides) is enough to provide a high level of security, which in turn allows you to feel safer.
Our customer was concerned that the look of a security door would ruin the style of her home. You don’t need to have a door that looks like a safe door to benefit from increased security. Even those doors which look as if they are wooden are actually steel doors with wood paneling, so the requirement for security does not compromise the style of the door. A security door should not be a standalone item within protecting your premises, rather it should be integrated into the bigger picture giving you peace of mind whenever you are at home, or away from it.
We are always keen to hear from you and find out more about what you would like to know. Is there something specific that concerns you with regards to security or how to improve protection of your home or business? We welcome your comments and questions and will endeavour to answer these within the confines of this blog. Our door is always open.
Tags:
Security Doors,
Steel Door
