According to Aaron Rocchetti, security expert with Pre-Lock Security Services, there are a few reasons you should upgrade your locks and door security. Rocchetti says there are only about 5,000 unique key shapes. What are the chances someone else has a key to your door? Pretty high if they're a previous resident. Then there are the Statistics Canada figures: there were 282,512 break and enters in 2001.
It may be difficult to foil an expert lock picker, but you can gird up your door to the point that it looks like too much work for a thug with a crowbar.
When Rocchetti came to outfit my door, he said that the old hardware was of the cheap, weak variety that anyone with a crowbar, “the universal key,” could open in a matter of seconds: "We would completely replace the old deadbolt and droopy knob, and add brass plates, a new strike plate with three-inch screws and a peephole." Rocchetti explained that you should insert the knob and lock in the door at least six inches apart: if they're any closer you'll create a weak zone in the frame.
The new knob was mainly a cosmetic job, but the new deadbolt offers more than simply assuring previous residents can't use their old keys. Unlike less-expensive models, “Grade 1” deadbolts have a few useful features. To discourage attempts to drill the lock out, they should have a hardened steel insert around the keyhole. The throw—the length of the bolt that extends out from the door—should be about an inch, be made from hardened steel and shouldn't adjust for depth. It's best if the outer lock cylinder comes in one piece so it can't be pried apart, and if the lock itself has pick-resistant pins. For additional security, buy a deadbolt that comes with keys that can't be copied without your authorization.
Brass plates not only look classy, they prevent a would-be thief from working a prybar into the lock area. They also keep the knob and lock firmly in place.
The long strike plate we bought from the security company isn't typically available at hardware stores. It provides six places to install three-inch screws, which should hold the strike plate to the door frame even under aggressive attempts to pop the deadbolt. If you aren't going to use a long plate, install your regular plate with the longest screws possible.
A 180º peephole is another smart addition to your security. Once the door is open, a chain gives an aggressor room to put some momentum into it. With a peephole, you'll know if you should open the door in the first place.
What you'll need:
The tools of the trade include a drill and 1/8", 1/4" and 1/2" wood bits, Phillips and Robertson screwdrivers, a hammer and chisel, safety glasses, a coin, a pencil and a tape measure. You'll also need a 2 1/8" and 1" hole saw to cut passage and latch holes.
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