securing home against burglaries

nino1

there have been a few burglaries in our appartment complex so i'm looking to make it more secure. We have a ground level apartment with a patio door facing outside and a wooden front door the entrance to which is only accessible inside the complex.

burglaries were from front wooden door kicked in and another was patio door removed.

Was thinking of getting an ivess lock for the patio (was on dragons den)
anyone know if that secure?

our front door which came with a standard lock in the middle so initially we put an extra yale lock on the top. Is that enough to stop door being kicked in our is a third lock required to be sure?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

JessyH

Do you have a gate or anything around your appartent? Theres a company I used, http://www.autogatesystems.ie on my house in Belfast great electric gates.. You could get a new alarm systmem put in place theres a few out there that the Police respond too.

nino1

thanks jessie,
the apartment complex is run by a management company so the only things i have control over are my front and patio door.

syklops

What time does it get dark at, at the moment? Around 4.30?

Set up a lamp with a low energy bulb in it, and connect it to a timer to come on at about 4pm, when it is starting to get dark, and again the same from about 7 in the morning until about 9.

A burglar isnt going to burgle a house that 'appears' to have someone living in it, and the sign of which is lights going on and off.

Are you going away for Christmas?

inovo

Install 2 shooting bolt locks on the pation door, one on top and one on bottom. This will prevent them from removing the door from the frame.

nino1

thanks for the help so far guys. they are good ideas.
yes i am going away for christmas.

what do you think of this ivess lock for patio?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz_gXqiNumc

also you think i need another lock on wooden front door?

nudger

Have 2 similar key operated ones on my patio door, good idea, also a good quality bolt on the bottom of your front door would be no harm and easy to fit, use good/big screws.

whizbang

those locks are great idea, mostly because it shows any would-be thieves that you have put some effort into prevention measures.
On the doors; the wood panels can sometimes be popped out easily with a good screwdriver. I have even seen them put back in afterwards.

CricketDude

One or two of these top and bottom on the inside of the door with a remote to unlock ithem when you are coming home.

http://www.doorentryonline.co.uk/acatalog/Electronic_drop_bolts.html

Carlow52

How are we fire exit wise with all this kit fitted?

Ambersky

This company Burglarybusters fit steel security doors.
They also do door jamb armour that strengthens existing doors.

Ive put up a few posts about this after they did some work on my house .
I already have an alarm system but want to keep intruders out of my home altogether.
Now I feel much more secure .

On the patio doors http://burglarybusters.ie/patio-doors.php

On door jamb armour http://burglarybusters.ie/bedroom-doors.php
And front doors http://www.securitycertifieddoors.ie/

CricketDude

Windows are always the weak point though. Dont know what you could do with them.

bbam

syklops wrote: »

What time does it get dark at, at the moment? Around 4.30?

Set up a lamp with a low energy bulb in it, and connect it to a timer to come on at about 4pm, when it is starting to get dark, and again the same from about 7 in the morning until about 9.

A burglar isnt going to burgle a house that 'appears' to have someone living in it, and the sign of which is lights going on and off.

Are you going away for Christmas?

When we're away we also put a radio on a timer too, reasonably loud...

About two years ago the sister was in collecting post and the radio came on and she near wet herself

1chippy

A five lever dead bolt fitted around 600mm up on the front door. ive had to get through variuos doors and always find them the hardest to get through. theres a neat option for the pvc door but cant think f the name of it, i will be talking to a window man tomorrow if i can remember to ask him and post it up for you.