You don't need a fortress to deter a burglar — most break-ins are crimes of opportunity, and a few inexpensive upgrades make your home a much harder target. Here are the changes that actually matter.
Start with the doors
- Install solid deadbolts with at least a 1-inch throw on every exterior door.
- Reinforce the strike plate with 3-inch screws that bite into the wall framing, not just the door jamb. Most kicked-in doors fail at the frame, not the lock.
- Upgrade hollow or weak doors to solid-core or metal on exterior entries.
- Secure the garage entry door — it's a door to your house and deserves the same deadbolt as the front.
Don't ignore windows and sliders
- Add locks or pins to ground-floor windows.
- Drop a dowel or security bar in the track of sliding doors so they can't be forced open.
- Consider security film on vulnerable glass to slow a smash-and-grab.
Make the outside work for you
- Light it up. Motion-activated lights at entrances remove the cover of darkness burglars rely on.
- Trim landscaping near doors and windows so there's nowhere to hide.
- Add visible deterrents — a camera or doorbell cam at the entry makes your home a less appealing target.
Never hide a key outside. Under the mat, in a fake rock, on top of the frame — burglars check all of them first. Use a keypad lock or a quality lockbox instead.
Build a few simple habits
- Lock up even for "just a minute" — opportunistic break-ins take seconds.
- Lock windows and sliders at night and when you're out.
- Don't broadcast vacations on social media until you're home.
- Make the house look lived-in with light timers when you travel.
Want a professional once-over?
We can assess your locks, deadbolts, and entry points and recommend the highest-impact upgrades for your home — no pressure, just straightforward advice. Get in touch to set up a home security check.