Any door that has been secured without a deadbolt lock often serves as an alluring target for burglars and intruders. It’s a well known fact in the security world that two-thirds of all burglaries involved forced entry, which in most cases, involved kicking the door in or prying it open from the door jamb.
In as much as the presence of metal door or solid core makes it much more difficult for a burglar to break into your home, another important security addition is a deadbolt lock. In order to fully protect your home or apartment from the menace of petty thieves and burglars, you should endeavor to have a deadbolt lock installed in your home by a professional locksmith. Here are some reasons why deadbolt locks can provide more security for your home than traditional padlocks.
• Grade 1 Rated Lock. One of the best ways to be 100% certain that your deadbolt is strong enough to provide the security you need is to look for a lock and deadbolt with a Grade 1 rating from the American National Standards Institute. Locks are typically graded from 1 to 3, with a Grade 1 providing the best residential protection for homes and apartments.
• Heavy Gauge Metal. Ensure that the deadbolt lock you have hired a professional locksmith to install offers as much strength as possible and won’t give way easily if challenged by a burglar. The strongest locks with deadbolts will most likely cost more, but experts in the security industry all agree they are worth the money.
• Solid Metal Strike Plate. The strike plate is that part of the deadbolt that secures the lock into the door. The strike plate isn’t always made of steel, so it is essential for you to check for the strongest strike plate available on the market.
• Deadbolts Are Resistant To Saws. Most deadbolts are designed with movable internal pins. When a burglar attempts to break through a deadbolt lock by sawing it, they encounter these pins and the saw only spins the pins around, but won’t make any meaningful progress in getting through the deadbolt.
• Deadbolt Throw: This is simply the length of the metal bolt that extends into the door jamb when the door is locked. Most deadbolt locks are designed with at a least one-inch throw that allows the metal bolt to extend well into the door frame.
Asides from increasing the security level of your home or apartment by having deadbolts locks installed by a reliable and competent locksmith, you can also have your locksmith help you with the installation of metal lock guards for additional security. Metal locks guards are meant to surround the lock in the door and make it much more difficult for a burglar to try and twist the lock out with the aid of plier or wrench.