Anti Social Behaviour, distraction burglay, street crime

domestic violence, domestic burglary, drug and alcohol abuse

How Secure is your Home - Part 3

Back Door Security

The back door is just as vulnerable as the front, so it is important to make sure that it is just as secure. If your home has a conservatory with an outer and inner door, both doors must be made secure. If intruders get through the outer door they could attack the inner door without being seen or heard.

Security measures for wooden back doors

1. Doors should be solid timber (not hollow), a minimum of 44 mm (1 ¾ ") thick, supported by three 100 mm (4") hinges. The frame to be of sound timber, securely bolted or screwed to the walls.

2. Fit a good 5-lever mortice sash lock with boxed staple (conforming to British Standard BS 3621) about halfway up the door (avoiding joints in the timber).

3. Fit hinge bolts at the hinge edge, approximately 150 mm (6") below the top hinge and 150 mm (6") above the bottom hinge.

4. Recessed or decorative panels should be a minimum of 9 mm ( ? ") thick to resist attack.

5. Fit any glass panels within or to the side of the door with laminated glass. You can strengthen existing glass by adding security film to the inside face. Fit glass from the inside to guard against putty or beading being removed. If this is not possible, use glazing mastic, which is stronger than putty. You could also fit a decorative metal grille on the inside face of glazed panels.

6. Fit mortice rack bolts at the top (maximum height 1.5 metres (4' 11")) and bottom of the back door or fit surface-mounted, key-operated press bolts.

Patio doors

7. Fit patio door locks at the top and bottomof the opening section of the patio door. There should be a minimum of three locking points.

8. Fit an anti-lifting device to prevent the opening door being lifted and removed.

Double French doors

9. Fit security press bolts or mortice rack bolts to the top and bottom of both doors and a 5-lever mortice sash lock (conforming to British standard BS 3621) on the first opening leaf.

10. Fit hinge bolts to both doors.

How Secure is your Home - Part 4