simple tip to help guard against home invasions

[Coldjensens]

Attached garages seem to be the main point of entry. I am nto sure why, I have always found it easier to get into the actual house

No. I am not a burgular. However i ahve had to get into houses for lots and lots of reasons. I or a family member or neighbor forgot the key. Someone has an emergency. Working with different groups to salvage a house that is abot the be torn down.

As a teen, we did often slither into peoples houses to play pranks - but not to take things.

I have never encountered a house that I could not eventually get into. If you are not concerned about doing damage, you can get into any house in a few minutes. Worst case - just go through the wall.

[lifelongMOgal]

I cannot believe no one mentioned having a lockable storm door or motion detecting lights.

The more layers the more time it takes, the more sound is made, and the more likely a predator will look for an easier house to rob.

[hueyeats]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

Most exterior doorway hinges & lockplates are attached to the doorframe with crappy little screws. That fault makes them relatively easy to kick in for a couple big bad guys.

To make them more secure, remove those short screws, drill the holes deeper, and replace them with 3" ones which will be screwed well into the door frame.

Do that for the hinges, striker plates, and lock plates (including the dead bolt assembly).

That will make it much more difficult for bad guys to break your doors down and force their way into your home.

You might want to do that for your "retreat" room elsewhere in the house too.

Not a cure-all, but a simple and wise precaution.

Great tips.

That and live in the countryside where "everyone" are "armed & thus dangerous" anyways (strangers always not welcome unless by invitation, either one belong to the neighbourhood or they don't have business there), by might, guns and/or even teeth (killer dogs, or alligators too).

Or just use ADT in the burbs.