Apartment Safety: Add a Lock for More Protection

A second lock, or even a third or fourth will definitely provide for you another degree of apartment safety. And, just as important it may provide additional peace of mind. 

A dependable lock – set is the only protection you and your possessions have from intruders. And, a second lock, quite simply, makes it twice as difficult to enter.  Now, there are differences between locks and lock-sets, so make sure to take a good look at what you’re buying. And, it is true that you get what you pay for. 

1. If you’re renting, you probably don’t want to install a $600 Baldwin Estate Series lock-set, but you want decent protection. Make sure to focus on the deadbolt. This piece of hardware is the most important. And, even more than brand name, you must look for the deepest deadbolt you can find. The further into the door jamb that your deadbolt extends into, the more weight bearing security you will receive. Most standard deadbolts intrude 1″ into your jamb. For an extra few dollars you will find 1 1/4″ or 1 1/2″ intrusions. This allows your door an additional layer of protection and makes it much more difficult for forced entry. 

2. On the interior, the installation of a heavy duty chain lock allow for visibility in the event your door is not equipped with a peep hole for viewing. Now, installation is another matter. Have you installed a lock set before?  Or chain set?  Well, don’t be worried, even the most novice of handymen can do this task easily. Typically, instructions for lock installation are very simple, and there are only a few parts that go into installation of a new lock or deadbolt. This is one time when you will want to follow all instructions and remember one rule of thumb:  the success of a lock or deadbolt depends greatly on how secure it is to your door. Take your time during installation. The average time for installing a lock or deadbolt will be less than 30 minutes. 

3. A small amount of custom fitting may be necessary to make sure this lock fits snugly, and securely in your door. If there is too much play in your door after the lock is set, adjust your door or lock-set to make certain your door has little or no wiggle room. It takes just an 1/8″ of space for an intruder to fit his pry bar. 

The last rule of success with your locks is often the most overlooked: Your door must be closed, locked, and secured. When security guards or police check buildings or homes when they exit, they must report to their partner or base that the door was not only closed, and locked, but also secured. This last check only requires you to try the lock yourself and make certain it is working. So many break ins occur when a victim locks the locks and closes, but does not take an extra moment to make sure that the door is secured from an intruder.