High quality doors and storm doors
Over 60% of burglaries take place at the ground floor, so it is best to protect these entry points best. All doors that lead into the house should be made of solid wood or steel-wrapped wood-core. Old rickety or hollow core doors can be kicked in easily and are not a deterrent to burglars. You will also want to make sure the door has the appropriate locks it needs. A heavy-duty deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw bolt, or a heavy-duty knob-in-lock set with a dead-latch mechanism is most common and works the best. Also, make sure to use a wide-angle peephole, so you can see who is at the door without opening it. Another safety precaution you can take is installing a door chain. When the screws are securely fasted, the door will be allowed to open only a short distance so you can check who is at the door while also preventing them from pushing their way through. One thing that you may not consider when thinking about burglary precautions, are the hinges on the door. Make sure that all door hinges are sturdy and are secured with strong long screws. You can also purchase security hinges and hinge bolts which are relatively inexpensive and help to reinforce the hinge-side of a door.
High quality windows
You need to consider high quality windows in your home. Windows need to be protected as much as doors do, and are actually left unlocked more often than doors. All windows should have a secondary blocking device that will prevent them from sliding open from the outside, as most windows come with latches rather than locks. Another deterrent is any decals that you can place for easy viewing on the window that indicates an alarm system or dog that is in place. Also make sure an intruder cannot reach through a window to unlock any doors in the house, or that they can remove any blocking devices you have in the window. You can also install anti-lift devices for windows that will prevent the window from being lifted out. The harder you make it for the intruder, the more likely they will give up on your home and move on.
Addition protection
You can also provide addition protection to your home by just thinking about the simply things. If you have shrubs, bushes, or trees outside your home, make sure they are trimmed back so every window and door is visible to neighbors. Also make sure there is adequate nighttime illumination for any part of your home. Motion sensing security lights are a great investment and will startle any potential intruders, and will notify yourself or neighbors at the same time. You can also set lights, radios, or televisions to timers so it appears someone is home.
