Winter brings early nights and fewer daylight hours, which can increase the risk of burglaries. As the days get colder and darker, it’s essential for homeowners to take steps to ensure their property remains secure. While high-tech security systems are useful, there are also straightforward locksmith solutions that significantly boost home security.
In this guide, we outline practical winter security tips to help protect your property, using traditional lock and door maintenance and upgrades to keep your home safe from intruders.
1. Strengthen Your Door Locks
Your main entry points are often the first target for burglars. Ensuring your locks are robust and up-to-date can prevent unauthorised access and act as a strong deterrent.
- Upgrade to British Standard Locks: Check if your locks meet the British Standard (BS3621), as many insurance providers require this certification for coverage. BS3621 locks are tested for durability, and they’re specifically designed to resist tampering methods such as lock picking or drilling.
- Consider Anti-Snap Locks: Lock snapping is a common burglary method, especially with uPVC doors. Anti-snap locks prevent the lock cylinder from breaking under force, making them much harder for intruders to manipulate.
- Install Deadbolts on External Doors: Adding deadbolts provides an additional layer of security. Look for deadbolts that extend fully into the door frame and are made from durable materials like steel, as these are more resistant to force.
2. Secure Your Windows with Lockable Handles
Windows are a vulnerable entry point, especially during winter when they may remain closed for long periods. Installing secure, lockable handles can deter burglars from breaking in.
- Add Keyed Window Locks: Keyed locks on windows are a simple but effective way to enhance security. These locks require a key to open, making it much more challenging for intruders to gain entry.
- Upgrade to Anti-Lift Devices for Sliding Windows: If you have sliding windows, consider adding anti-lift devices. These small components prevent windows from being lifted out of their tracks, blocking an easy route for burglars.
- Ensure Double-Glazing Locks Are Functional: If your windows are double-glazed, ensure that the internal locking mechanism is still functional. Over time, these locks can wear out, so regular checks and maintenance are essential.
3. Strengthen Your Doors with Reinforcement Plates and Hinges
A secure door isn’t just about the lock – the door structure and frame are equally important. Reinforcing your doors with extra hardware can prevent break-ins by making doors much harder to force open.
- Install Strike Plates and Reinforcement Plates: Reinforcement plates around the lock area help to prevent forced entry by strengthening the part of the door that’s most vulnerable to breakage. Strike plates also reinforce the area where the lock meets the frame, adding additional security.
- Use Longer Screws on Hinges: Replacing the screws in your door hinges with longer, more durable ones (3 inches or longer) helps keep the door securely attached to the frame. Longer screws go deeper into the door frame, making it harder for intruders to kick the door in.
- Consider Hinge Bolts for Outward-Opening Doors: If your doors open outward, hinge bolts add another layer of security. These bolts prevent the door from being forced off its hinges, making it much more resistant to forced entry attempts.
4. Winterise Your Locks and Doors
Cold weather can make locks and doors more challenging to use. Frozen locks or stiff doors can increase the risk of security vulnerabilities, so it’s important to take steps to keep them in good working condition.
- Lubricate Locks to Prevent Freezing: Cold weather can cause locks to seize up. Applying a silicone or graphite-based lubricant can help prevent your locks from freezing, keeping them smooth and easy to use.
- Weatherproof Door Frames: Installing weather stripping around your doors helps keep cold air out and prevents moisture from seeping into locks and hardware, which can cause rust and wear.
- Check Door Frames for Gaps: Gaps in your door frames can make it easier for burglars to pry them open. Inspect all door frames for any gaps and add weather stripping or adjust the frame as necessary.
5. Protect Your Garage and Outbuildings
Garages and outbuildings are often overlooked, but they are also frequent targets for burglars. Securing these areas properly helps protect valuable items and prevents unwanted entry into your home.
- Install Deadbolts on Garage Doors: Just like your main doors, garage doors should be equipped with deadbolts or other high-security locks. These locks make it much harder for burglars to gain access to your garage.
- Use Padlocks with Hardened Shackles: For any outdoor sheds or outbuildings, use high-quality padlocks with hardened shackles that are resistant to bolt cutters. Padlocks with closed shackles offer additional protection by making it harder for intruders to cut through them.
- Secure Internal Doors Leading from the Garage to the House: If your garage is attached to your home, ensure the door leading into the main house is secure. Consider adding a deadbolt to this door for extra protection, in case someone gains access to the garage.
6. Maintain Visibility Around Entry Points
Darkness can provide cover for burglars, so ensuring good visibility around your entry points can deter intruders from attempting to break in.
- Trim Back Overgrown Shrubs and Bushes: Overgrown plants near doors or windows provide hiding places for burglars. Keep bushes trimmed back to improve visibility and reduce hiding spots.
- Install Low-Level Lighting by Doors: While we’re avoiding advanced security systems in this guide, it’s still worthwhile to have basic, low-level lighting near your entry points. Well-lit entryways make it harder for intruders to stay hidden.
- Use Frosted or Privacy Glass for Front Door Windows: If your front door has a glass panel, consider using frosted or privacy glass to prevent people from looking inside. This obscures the view into your home and makes it harder for potential intruders to scope out valuables.
7. Install Key Safes Securely
If you need to leave spare keys outside, using a key safe is much safer than hiding a key under the mat. However, key safes must be installed and used correctly to provide security.
- Choose a High-Quality Key Safe: Look for a key safe that’s made from durable materials and is resistant to tampering. Models with combination locks are especially secure, as they’re difficult to break into.
- Install Out of Sight: Place the key safe in a discreet location that’s not immediately visible from the street. This reduces the chance of a burglar finding and tampering with it.
- Change the Combination Regularly: For added security, change the key safe combination every few months, especially if you’ve shared it with multiple people. This reduces the risk of the code falling into the wrong hands.
8. Encourage Safe Key Management
Key management might seem simple, but poor practices can lead to security breaches. Proper handling of keys is essential for keeping your property safe.
- Avoid Labelling Keys with Personal Information: If you lose your keys, labelling them with personal information makes it easier for someone to locate your property. Instead, label keys with a generic identifier if necessary.
- Regularly Check Who Has Access: If multiple family members or tenants have keys, make sure you know who has access to your home. Regularly checking can help identify any misplaced or unreturned keys.
- Use High-Security Keys: High-security keys are designed to be harder to duplicate, which can add an extra layer of protection to your home. Check with your locksmith to see if this is a suitable option for your locks.
Final Thoughts
Winter weather can create additional risks for homeowners, but by taking proactive steps, you can protect your property and deter potential intruders. Simple upgrades to locks, windows, doors, and garages can greatly improve security and give you peace of mind.
RJ Parker Locksmiths are here to assist with all your lock and security needs this winter. From installing durable deadbolts to providing advice on anti-snap locks, our team of professionals can help secure your property effectively. Contact us to ensure your home is winter-ready and safe from potential threats.