For this months' tip, I figured I would expand on the target hardening topic of last month and dive a little deeper into ways to protect your doors and windows. Last month I touched on Astragal's and latch protection, but I did not cover the various types of devices out there. While there are many, the concept is the same; make it harder for someone to force their way into your entry points.
I'm sure everyone has seen the old style door chain, while this does allow you to open the door a little, in order to see who is there, modern video Intercom's and even the old faithful peep hole have made the ease of the bypass of a chain a deal breaker.
The latch you choose will depend on the door you are protecting and your physical ability to use the lock. For example, while a sliding floor latch may offer great unobtrusive protection, if you have problems bending down, this may not be ideal for you. The same holds true for the brass flip lock (4th from the top on the far left) While this is a great lock, which I have used, it is not ideal for those who have severely arthritic fingers. It is CRITICAL to remember, while the lock needs to be designed to keep criminals out, it also has to allow for emergency egress, in case of a fire or some other emergency, which requires immediate escape.
Another consideration is how external conditions could prevent a lock from opening. The floor plate below the aforementioned swing lock is a prime example. Upon initial examination the lock looks like it can be easily released by stepping on it; but what if some gunk gets stuck underneath and the raised wedge cannot lower? Sure, you could always run for another door, but this is not always an option, nor is finding something to quickly clear the gunk out.
At the end of the day, just like with any system, the end design needs to be based around the needs of everyone in your household, large, small, young and old.
Content from KeepSafeSystems.ca - Used with permission