I know that security is a bit of a show and its really more of a deterant, but I was wondering realistically how I could prevent someone breaking and entering a small-ish American home? What is actually effective?

  • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️@lemmy.worldEnglish
    43·
    5 days ago

    Reinforce your doorframes and window frames, preferably with steel. The dinky pine wood frames of residential doors and windows are hilariously easy to kick in, and the thickest steel door and the meanest window bars in the world won’t mean much when an attacker can simply kick them out of the frame with a minimum of effort.

    You will probably find that doing this is in fact deemed illegal by at least one entity in your local hierarchy of state/county/municipality. I’ll give everyone three guesses as to why.

    • meco03211@lemmy.world
      151·
      5 days ago

      Any properly framed door or window won’t be the failure point. It’s usually the fasteners. Deadbolts usually only come with dinky little half inch screws for the strike plate. Replace those with some 2.5" deck screws and it’ll be much harder to kick open.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
        2·
        3 days ago

        Why do people say this? When I moved into my current house and replaced all the deadbolts, every choice came with at least one long screw to anchor into the joist. And that was 20 years ago

        • meco03211@lemmy.world
          2·
          3 days ago

          When I replaced my deadbolts about 5 years ago, none of them had it. Maybe we got different brands?

      • mesa@piefed.socialOPEnglish
        12·
        5 days ago

        I believe in some areas fire is a valid concern. But I also imagine if you do it right, it doesnt matter as much.

          • mesa@piefed.socialOPEnglish
            10·
            5 days ago

            No its just harder to get out in case of a fire. But thats just spitballing. I know that’s why you cant put bars on all windows or totally obstruct exits. Fire is much MUCH more likely to happen than a break and entering. At least where I am at. People need to get out in case of a fire. But im pretty sure there are still ways of protecting yourself instead of just bars.

        • Pearl@lemmy.ml
          1·
          4 days ago

          I think for firefighters you’d have to install some “fire key” system and they’ll ok it.

          LEO would be able to get the key themselves with a warrant though, but at that point they’re checking your cavities whether you want to or not.