NCJ Number
62061
Journal
Consumer Reports Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 132-141
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT FOR CONSUMERS DESCRIBES BURGLARS' METHODS FOR BREAKING INTO HOMES AND APARTMENTS, WAYS TO IMPROVE BOTH DOOR STRUCTURES AND LOCKING SYSTEMS, AND THE MERITS AND WEAKNESSES OF AVAILABLE DOOR AND WINDOW LOCKS.
Abstract
BURGLARS MOST COMMONLY ENTER A HOME BY OPENING UNLOCKED DOORS OR BY KICKING, PRYING, HAMMERING, OR CUTTING LOCKED DOORS OR THEIR LOCKS. ALTHOUGH NO DOOR-LOCKING SYSTEM CAN MAKE A HOME IMPREGNABLE, A STRONG, WELL-LOCKED DOOR CAN DETER BURGLARS BY MAKING ENTRY DIFFICULT AND TIME CONSUMING. NEITHER THE KEY IN THE KNOB NOR THE MORTISE LOCKS FOUND IN MOST ORIGINAL DOOR INSTALLATIONS ARE SERIOUS DETERRENTS TO FORCED ENTRY. RECOMMENDED LOCKS INCLUDE INTERCONNECTED LOCKSETS, VERTICAL BOLT LOCKS, CYLINDER DEAD BOLT LOCKS, AND VERTICAL DEAD BOLT LOCKS. MOREOVER, HIGH SECURITY KEY CYLINDERS ARE LESS VULNERABLE TO ENTRY THAN ARE STANDARD CYLINDERS. FOR DOOR SECURITY, RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE (1) THE REINFORCEMENT OF FRAMES AND JAMBS, (2) THE PROTECTION OF EXISTING MORTISE LOCKS BY CYLINDER GUARD PLATES AND THEIR AUGMENTATION BY AUXILIARY LOCKS, (3) REPLACEMENT OF KEYS IN THE DOOR LOCKS BY MORE SECURE LOCKS, (4) USE OF A HIGH SECURITY KEY CYLINDER. FOR WINDOW SECURITY, HOMEOWNERS SHOULD INSTALL EYEBOLTS IN HOLES DRILLED ON EACH SIDE OF THE WINDOW, RATHER THAN PURCHASING A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE WINDOW LOCK. ILLUSTRATIONS, WITH DESCRIPTIONS AND RATINGS OF EACH BRAND OF WINDOW AND DOOR LOCK TESTED, ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)