This is how the front door can be retrofitted with burglary protection securing the front door – 11 tips for better protection against burglary
Every front door is only as secure as its weakest part. To provide the entrance area with maximum protection, you don’t just need a locked cylinder lock – door burglary protection also includes secured hinges, additional locks, security fittings, and armored bolts.
We provide an overview of the best electrical and mechanical security solutions for the front door and also reveal which ones are suitable for retrofitting in rented Homes.
- Door security can be significantly improved with various additional security devices.
The most important thing about front door burglary protection is explained in brief
In addition to a locking cylinder with a security card or security strike plates with wall anchors, professional door security can also include mortise locks and protective fittings with anti-pulling protection.
Additional mechanical security components such as armored bolts, additional locks, or hinged side locks further strengthen the front door’s burglary security. We present the retrofitting options and what they do.
Tip 1 for securing the front door – the mortise lock
We can secure the front door with the mortise lock. It’s possible because a mortise lock is one of the most commonly used solutions for front door burglary protection: A cylinder bolt is pushed into a designated opening in the door frame by locking and unlocking the lock. This type of lock is invisible and difficult to manipulate because the lock is built into the door.
There are several variants of this – for the most diverse needs, for example, fire protection doors, narrow door profiles, or a self-locking model with an anti-panic function. With the latter, the locked door can also be opened from the inside without a key.
Last update on 2023-03-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tip 2 for Securing the Front Door – (The Electric Door Opener)
The buzzer of an electric door opener unlocks the entrance door at the push of a button, for example via an intercom system, without the resident having to go to the door and open it manually.
Today, electric door openers are also standard in most apartment buildings and companies for reasons of convenience, the intercom system offers additional burglary protection since you don’t have to open the front door to see who is in front of it – audio or video channels allow you to check this first.
Last update on 2023-03-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tip 3 for Securing the Front Door – (The Digital Door Viewer)
The equivalent of the intercom system for the front door is the door viewer for the apartment door. It is available as a classic version or as a digital version with a screen display. The advantage of the digital variant is that you cannot see from the outside whether someone is looking through the door viewer from the inside.
A classic or digital door viewer has the advantage of being able to check when the door is closed whether the person in front of the door is known, looks trustworthy, and how many people are in front of the front door. As a result, you don’t have to face the other person personally and you have the closed door as protection between you and the person(s) in front of the door. Trick thefts or apartment robberies can be thwarted with a little caution.
Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Also practical: the fisheye-like wide-angle optics of door viewers increase the detection angle in front of the door so that the entire hallway is usually visible.
Tip 4 to Secure the Front Door – (The Door Chain)
Does the apartment door have to be opened for a signature when accepting a package, an engaged door chain offers reliable protection against uninvited guests. After all, the door can not simply be pushed open like this. This also allows for conversation or the handing over of small items if needed, while maintaining door security.
Read more —->Best Smart Locks for Rental Property
Tip 5 to Secure the Front Door- (The Additional Lock)
As an alternative or as a supplement to the door chain, an additional door lock increases the front door’s burglary protection without the need for major conversion work. If the additional lock is used instead of a door chain, there is the option with a locking bar so that the door can only be opened a little when the bolt is engaged and forced entry is made more difficult.
Table could not be displayed.Tip 6 for Secure the Front Door- The hinged side guard
To increase door burglary protection and to protect the entrance doors from being pried open – and not just on the lock side – there are hinge-side security devices.
They can withstand a pressure of one ton and add additional locks, for example. In addition to house and apartment doors, these mechanical burglary protection components can also be used for balcony doors, for example on the terrace or in the basement.
Last update on 2023-03-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tip: Door-hinged side guards are also well suited for retrofitting the front door security.
Tip 7 for Secure the Front Door- The protective fitting
Burglar-resistant security fittings protect mortise locks and locking cylinders from breaking off, penetrating, and being pulled. The security fitting should be certified, firmly enclose the door cylinder, and be firmly screwed on from the inside. In this way, doors can be secured without having to consider buying a new one straight away.
Tip 8 to Secure the Front Door- The strike plate
A security strike plate is part of the basic security for door burglary protection, whether house or an apartment. Security strike plates increase door security as they make it more difficult for burglars to pry open the door in the lock area.
Last update on 2023-03-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tip 9 for Secure the Front Door- The Protective Rosette
Protective rosettes protect the door cylinder on objects where there is not enough space for protective fittings or where they should not be attached for aesthetic reasons. To ensure door burglary protection, a protective rosette serves as a socket for the locking cylinder and thus makes break-in attempts more difficult.
Last update on 2023-03-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tip 10 for Secure the Front Door- The Armored Bolt
Both the house and the apartment door can be mechanically secured with an armored bolt. The bolt strengthens the front door burglary protection over the entire door width, both on the lock and the hinge side, and can also be installed as a retrofit solution in rented apartments. An armored bolt offers high resistance to break-in attempts and can secure not only inward but also outward-opening doors.
Last update on 2023-03-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tip 11 for Secure the Front Door- The door bar lock
Doors in old buildings pose a major risk when it comes to door security: Moldings and other decorative elements often prohibit the installation of additional security devices.
A door bar lock, on the other hand, is also suitable for high doors of up to almost three meters, which are often found in old buildings. When locked, the lock snaps in at the top and bottom, locking the entire height of the apartment door.Table could not be displayed.
If you want to make life difficult for burglars, you can increase your door security, e.g by the following measures:
- Replace the existing locking cylinder with a door cylinder with a security card
- Attach a protective fitting
- Mount a protective rosette
Tip: Placing a visible camera in the entrance area can also deter burglars. However, only one’s property may be monitored at a time. In addition, any fellow tenants walking through the picture must be informed about this and have agreed to the recording of the picture.
For optimal burglary protection, both the police and insurance companies recommend reinforcing doors with additional security against breaking open or levering open. After all, the most obvious entry point for burglars is the house or apartment door.
If a door is additionally secured against burglary using hinge side protection, additional locks, and suitable wall anchors, opportunistic thieves usually give up after a short time so as not to be caught trying to pry open it. Just as additional door security measures act as a deterrent for burglars, unsecured doors can be easily recognized by protruding locking cylinders or protective fittings that can be unscrewed from the outside
Extra tip: To secure the front door well, a door leaf that is too weak should also be checked and, if necessary, retrofitted. Because experts generally recommend using a solid wood door that is at least 40 millimeters thick.
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