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Everyday on the news we see more and more accounts of crime and violence against our fellow man. Burglary and break-ins are becoming more and more common. Having a good door lock can be a deterrent to those who would intrude on your safety and peace of mind. The following guidelines give a basic description of the various doorlocks and their effectiveness against break-ins.
We will begin with the simple key in knob lock. This offers you little to no protection against intruders. Some are easily opened by slipping a credit card between the door and the frame. A higher priced key in knob lock will have a separate tongue that can't be opened that way, however, every key in knob lock can be opened by jamming an ice pick or small screwdriver into the key hole or breaking off the knob. An inside chain lock will not keep out intruders who are armed with metal cutters, as they can cut right through the chain. These are helpful, however, for identifying visitors before opening the door all the way.
Addding a deadbolt lock can add to the security of your home, but you must be sure it has at least a 1 inch throw into the doorjamb. Vertical deadbolt cylinder locks are the strongest and will not allow an intruder in. Even armed with a prybar, he will not be able to separate the door from the jamb to disengage the lock.
A full mortise lockset is an excellant choice, although the installation can be tricky as you must cut deep into the door's edge. Breaking off the knob or handle of this door will not allow the intuder entry. The best defense against intruders, however, is a huge lock called the sliding bar lock. Turning the key or inside knob slides long deadbolts into both doorjambs. Once these are installed, even removing the hinge pins of the door will not allow an intruder acess. The main downfall of this lock is the unattractive appearance and noise, but it's a small price to pay for security, safety and peace of mind for your family.
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