Home security

[Creampuff]

There is another thread in OT regarding bump-key, and it got me thinking. (By the way, I did replac my locks in my house, with the bump-key resistant locks. Don't really know if they make any difference, other than peace of mind.)

I do have a question for those in LEO. In general in the middle of suburbea, where associations don't let us have security doors, what type of break-ins do you usually see for burglaries?

I have my doors frames enforced with Strikemasters, so that should slow things down a little, if they just want to brute force kick open the front or back door. But I am curious, in the real world experience, how often do you see bump-keyed homes vs kick-ins vs opened/unlocked windows and doors?

Thanks in advance!

[415dog!]

Most common MO in my town is kicked in back door or back window. IV only seen a few kicked in front doors.

[Rockit]

Window/back door smash #1
Trailing at least 20-1, garage side door kick.
VERY few front door kicks.

[Ron-Solo]

Window/back door smash #1
Trailing at least 20-1, garage side door kick.
VERY few front door kicks.

This was my experience over 32 years and six different patrol stations.

[mixicus]

Number #1 POE in my AO...unlocked/unsecured windows and doors. Regardless of the method, POE is almost always from areas that have poor visiblity such as rear or side yards. The front door kick is rare.

[garplay]

As not a cop but a general security person:

#1 is an unlocked door or window in a non-visible-to-the-street position.

#2 would be breaking said door or window.

Remember, a doorlock is only as strong as the window next to it, so there is no point in strengthening your doorjams and locks if you don't need bars on the windows. Its also useful to remember if you ever lock yourself out: depending on the windows, it may be cheaper to break a window and replace it yourself than call a locksmith.

Bump Keying is a fun demo at Defcon, but a rock is easier to use...


Many such burglaries are also crimes of opportunity: you don't need to have your house be a fortress, you just need to have your house be harder to break into than your neighbor's. [1]


But replacing older locks with the latest Kwikset is useful, NOT to prevent bump keying but to allow trivial RE-keying: You can give a neighbor a temporary key for the back door then rekey it back when vacation is over. Or if you have a bad breakup, you can rekey all your locks without calling a locksmith.



Finally, also consider a multiple perimeter approach: I lock all my windows and doors (natch), but the irreplaceable stuff (Not necessarily the EXPENSIVE stuff mind you, just the irreplaceable stuff), such as my passport, grandma's engagement ring, computer backups, etc, all live in a UL Listed RSC/30 minute fire safe.

A real gunsafe is the cheapest option for such security, and provides important fire protection, not just burglary protection. Just remember to keep a dehumidifier in the safe, I learned that one the hard way when I had to replace my passport due to humidity damage.


[1] Its the parable of the two hikers and the bear. "I don't need to outrun the bear, I just need to outrun you".

[Coded-Dude]

all i've ever seen is someone breaking a window in the back of the house while the owner is gone.(bathroom window or something similar). don't know anyone who has had their lock picked. never been robber personally (knocks on wood).

[TheExpertish]

Window/back door smash #1
Trailing at least 20-1, garage side door kick.
VERY few front door kicks.

This for forced entry. You'd be surprised at how many people leave back sliders and windows unlocked.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Patio door smashes

[fullrearview]

Unlocked door or prying a slider for me.

[TRICKSTER]

This for forced entry. You'd be surprised at how many people leave back sliders and windows unlocked.

+1 on people often leaving the slider unlocked. Was chasing an auto thief through backyards after he crashed the stolen car he was driving during a pursuit. He disappeared into the nearby backyards and we were pretty sure that he hadn't broken the perimeter but after almost a hour of checking the area we couldn't find him. Later that night we got a call of a cold burglary and auto theft at one of the residences that we had checked and found secure. Apparently the owner was in the habit of leaving the back slider unlocked. The suspect found this, went inside and locked the slider. While we were searching the area, he made himself at home, helped himself to a few items and after we all left, stole the car, (made easy because the keys were on the kitchen counter) right out of the garage and drove off.

People, your doors and windows have locks for a reason. Please use them.

[Creampuff]

I don't have a sliding backdoor, so that helps (my mother in law, does and I placed a low profile snug, dowel to keep from horizontal prying, and screws in the track to keep from vertical lifting off the tracks).

Now living here in the suburbs, where we aren't allowed to put bars on the outside of the windows, what safeguards are there to harden my window security?

The backdoor, someone could either break the windows nearest the door and reach in and open the door, or break the window pane on the door itself and open the door.
(I don't want to put a double cylinder lock as that would put a huge fire risk if my family needed to escape through the back).

Garage side door also has a window pane in the door itself, but I changed that lock into a double cyclinder lock, as I know my family can manually open the garage door in case of fire.

Will the 3M security film on windows slow down a window smash?? Or will it just make the smash a nice neat pile for the burglar to push out of the way?

[garplay]

I don't have a sliding backdoor, so that helps (my mother in law, does and I placed a low profile snug, dowel to keep from horizontal prying, and screws in the track to keep from vertical lifting off the tracks)...

How many burglaries a year happen in your town? How many when you exclude an unlocked door or window? Is there any reason for a burglar to target you specifically over your neighbor?

You need to know the answer to those questions before you start to look at armoring your windows/replacing them with lexan etc...

[TASK, LLC]

I have seen a lot of burglaries on unlocked doors and windows.

Next would be pried windows and back doors kicked in.

Just a few front doors kicked in.

[oddjob]

Whats been popular lately is a rock through the rear slider. If no one shows they walk in. Front door kicks are very rare. Like others have said....If you can see the entry point from the street...thats not where they will go in.