If your valuables are not 'gone in 60 seconds' they won't be stolen at all. The National Crime Prevention Institute says that if an intruder can't gain entry into the property in 60 seconds, he is likely to give up and move on. According to UK Crime Statistics 2003, 3 homes in every 100 are robbed - thats a whopping 974,000 burglaries. 20% of these burglaries are opportunistic with burglars getting in through an open door or window. 'Walk-in' thefts, where the thief gains entry through an unlocked door are probably the most common single type of theft.
If the house is secured with good quality locks that take longer to crack, most thieves won't bother at all. Locks are the main line of defense that most people use to protect their homes. Locks and keys are changing with the times, but their function remains the same, i.e. to keep the intruders out and provide access to authorized folks only. The standard, key-in-knob locks found on most entry doors offer very little protection. The beveled end of their spring latch makes it easy to defeat the lock by inserting a credit card between the door and the frame. Accessible windows - those on the ground floor and near drainpipes and flat roofs - are also an easy means of entry that need to be firmly secured .
Entry doors are the most important security concern. These doors can be fitted with mortise deadlocks up to at least the BS3621/80, the strongest locks according to British Standards. Only a key, and not any other implement such as a plastic card can open these doors. Doors that are locked from inside, should also be fitted with bolts. Patio doors are especially vulnerable to break-ins and can be fitted with extra security locks, so that the slicing frame can’t be lifted off its tracks. Double doors can be secured with top and bottom bolts as well as these locks. Door hinges also need to be sturdy as thieves can easily remove them. They can be secured with long screws, and for extra security hinge bolts can be fitted to reinforce the hinge side of the door against attack. Windows can also be fitted with key-operated locks, if they are easily accessible.
The combination keypad-electronic deadbolt is another alternative to the traditional lock of yore. It replaces the deadbolt in the door to provide keyless entry. To lock the door, one has to simply touch the lock button on the keypad, and the deadbolt slides into place. To unlock, the combination or code has to be entered via the keypad. The security code can be changed any number of times, and one can program a secondary list of access numbers for service people who may need entry to the house.
Smart locks and keys are also a popular alternative to traditional locks to secure doors in residential complexes and apartment hotels. They permit only authorized people into certain doors, at certain times. These keys are programmed at a central computer to permit access only to you. They are individualized and cannot be reproduced on blanks at the local hardware store. If the key is lost all one has to do is re-program new keys on the computer, these cannot be duplicated by any other person. An example of this is keys one gets in a hotel that look like credit cards
Keys themselves are changing rapidly, and the next generation of programmable keys will allow us complete control over access to our home or business. Some manufacturers are working on a key that can be programmed using a small computer inside the key, so we can keep a track of all who enter, which door they used, and when they came in. In whatever form you use locks and keys, they are one of the most critical and effectives ways of ensuring the security of your home.
Some articles on domestic security systems with details on camera monitoring and electronic monitoriing