Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
gave the drug dealer time to flush several kilos of cocaine down the toilet.
The point of retelling this account is to illustrate that the right design can
provide relatively good security, but it does not make the residence a
fortress. Just remember that glass is still just glass. It may deter but it
cannot stop, as the right type of tool will easily smash through the door
and allow entry.
DOORS AND LOCKS
Check the locks on the sliding doors. Make sure they are functioning
properly. Many sliding doors have a tiny latch lever that provides the only
lock. A quick twist with a crowbar or heavy screwdriver is all that it takes
to force entry. A straight bar placed behind the closed door can improve
security dramatically. Don't forget that while the locking mechanism itself
can be made effective, all it takes to get through a glass door is a hard
strike with a brick.
Solid doors must also be scrutinized. You would be amazed at the
enormous number of people who have spent a lot of money on steel doors
and dead bolts on doors that they have set into wood frames. During his
career with the DEA, David smashed through hundreds of such doors.
Remember, the strength of the door depends on the strength and con-
struction of the door
frame.
Look at the doors in your home right now. The
hinges are screwed into the frame, aren't they? If the frame is wooden, the
hinges can be easily forced off the frame. That strong and expensive steel
door will simply be torn right off the frame. Select a sturdy steel door with
dead-bolt locks set in a metal frame. Standard dead bolts must have a
throw of at least one inch. A better choice is a multipoint lock design. This
type of lock secures the door to the frame in several places, making it
more resistant to prying or battering attacks. The lock companies Rav-
Bariah and S.E. Yardeni, as well as the German firm Winkhaus, offer very
strong designs. Another suggestion is to use cross bars on the inside of the
door that bolt into the top, bottom, and sides of the frame. This type of
locking system is also a good idea on the door to your residential safe
haven, which we will discuss below. In addition, antiram bars are a good
idea on any door that is not used frequently, like the door to the basement.
The door must then be securely fastened to the frame. Make sure that
the hasps are screwed into the frame and door with long, heavy-duty screws.
