3-inch strike-plate screws
Replace short strike screws so the deadbolt strike ties into framing, not just trim.
Gotcha: pre-drill if needed and keep the latch aligned; a bound deadbolt gets left unlocked.
Quick Reference: The Burglar's Decision Math
U.S. statistics are used throughout; the mechanical lessons are broadly portable. Read this as a defensive homeowner checklist, not as a law-enforcement incident guide.
Movie version
A careful lock picker defeats the front door at midnight.
Reality
Open/weak doors and windows, daytime vacancy, speed, noise avoidance, and obvious loot drive the ordinary case.
Extended strike or door-jamb kit
Spreads force across more wood and more fasteners on the door side that usually fails.
Do before: premium cylinders, smart locks, or extra cameras.
Window pins and vent locks
Add a mechanical stop to accessible windows, including partially open ventilation positions.
Do not block egress: bedrooms still need emergency exit.
Light timers or smart bulbs
Make the house look lived in without advertising a fixed vacation schedule.
Best use: vary rooms and times; one porch light forever is not occupancy.
Close the garage and hide remotes
An open garage is both access and a vacancy signal; a remote in a driveway car extends the house keyring outside.
Check: lock the interior service door like an exterior door.
Trim hiding cover
Keep door and window sightlines visible from the street or neighbors.
Use when: shrubs, fences, or side-yard clutter let someone work unseen.
Move valuables out of obvious rooms
Cash, jewelry, guns, drugs, and prescriptions are high-interest items in offender surveys.
Bad default: master-bedroom drawers and closet shelves.
Dogs and noise cues
DOJ/COPS and offender interviews both treat occupancy/noise/dogs as meaningful selection deterrents.
Not a shopping recommendation: do not get a pet solely as hardware.
How They Actually Get In: The Entry-Point Table
Percentages vary by dataset, architecture, and police-report quality, so this page avoids false precision. The recurring pattern is stable: open/weak doors and windows beat exotic lock attacks.
| Entry reality | What the evidence supports | Defensive implication | Source class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlocked or open door/window | BJS defines completed unlawful entry as no-force entry, and DOJ/COPS summarizes roughly one-third of burglaries as no-force entry in older U.S. reporting. | Lock the boring things every time: side doors, garage interior doors, sliders, basement windows, and second-story windows near climbable features. | BJS + DOJ/COPS |
| Forced door | DOJ/COPS notes simple prying, weak locks, weak frames, or kicked doors in forced entries; the frame and strike often matter before the cylinder. | Long strike screws, extended strike, reinforced jamb, solid-core door, and a deadbolt that actually extends fully. | DOJ/COPS |
| Forced or open first-floor window | UNC offenders reported open/forced windows and doors as the common pattern; DOJ/COPS flags accessible side/back windows. | Window pins, working locks, trimmed cover, and film only where delay/noise is worth the cost. | Offender interviews |
| Garage and service door | DOJ/COPS treats open garages as access, target information, and vacancy cues. | Keep garage closed, remove car remotes from outdoor vehicles, harden the house-to-garage door, and lock tools/ladders. | DOJ/COPS |
| Second-floor or ladder-assisted entry | Less common than accessible doors/windows, but open upper windows near a porch roof, deck, or stored ladder are still reachable. | Do not supply the ladder. Lock reachable upper windows before travel and after contractors leave. | Risk mechanics |
| Lock pick or acquired key | Only about one in eight UNC-surveyed burglars reported lock picking or using a previously acquired key. | Rekey when key custody is unknown; do not treat lock picking as the first-dollar problem on a weak door. | Offender interviews |
When and Who: Weekday Vacancy Beats Midnight Drama
DOJ/COPS summarizes research showing many residential burglaries occur during the daytime when houses are unoccupied, with studies pointing to weekday hot windows around 10-11 AM and 1-3 PM. UNC's offender sample was mixed on day/night, but female offenders clearly preferred afternoon residential burglaries.
7-10
10-12
12-3
3-5
5-10
10-7
Mon
low
hot
hot
warm
varies
lower
Tue
low
hot
hot
warm
varies
lower
Wed
low
hot
hot
warm
varies
lower
Thu
low
hot
hot
warm
varies
lower
Fri
low
warm
warm
warm
varies
lower
Weekend
varies
varies
varies
varies
varies
varies
The target-selection filters
- Occupancy: people, noise, cars, fresh mail handling, and active routines lower attractiveness.
- Visibility: doors/windows hidden by shrubs, fences, porches, or side yards are worse than visible entries.
- Accessibility: easy side/back approaches, unlocked gates, alleys, and open garages raise risk.
- Vulnerability: weak frames, poor locks, open windows, and few devices reduce delay.
- Reward: visible electronics, tools, vehicles, delivery piles, and public vacation signals make the house look worth time.
- Near-repeat risk: DOJ/COPS notes previously burgled homes and nearby houses face elevated risk because the same vulnerabilities and goods are known.
What Deters Burglars the Most?
How to read the rankings
Offender interviews are strongest for selection: what made them choose another target. Hardware is strongest for delay: what turns a quiet, fast entry into noisy, slow work.
Buy first occupancy cues, visibility, and door/window delay. Buy later cameras and monitoring once the boring openings are handled.
Anti-paranoia calibration: BJS NCVS estimated 1.10 million burglaries in 2024, or 8.2 per 1,000 households. This is a real risk, not a reason to turn a home into a bunker.
Do Security Cameras Stop Break-Ins?
They can stop selection when visible, but they do not stop the door from failing. Treat cameras as witness/evidence tools and neighbor-displacement tools, not as first-dollar physical security.
- Mount for faces: one camera too high often records hats and heads, not usable identification.
- Light the scene: motion light plus camera beats dark infrared smears.
- Store off-device: local recorder hidden inside or cloud retention prevents the camera itself from being the only evidence.
What Alarms Actually Do
UNC offenders said alarms affect target selection; DOJ/COPS also warns that police alarm calls are overwhelmingly false. The honest value is the siren, the clock, notifications, and insurance math - not guaranteed fast police arrival.
- Buy if: you will arm it, maintain sensors, use verification, and the insurance discount meaningfully offsets monitoring.
- Do not buy if: it delays basic doors/windows or you will tolerate repeated false alarms.
- Check local rules: some cities use verified response or fines for repeated false alarms.
The Hardware Section: Spend in the Right Order
Weak Short screws into jamb
The lock may be fine while the wood holding the strike is not. This is why "better lock, same weak frame" is often theater.
First fix Long screws into framing
Use the cheap fix first, then an extended strike or jamb reinforcement kit where the door and trim justify it.
Deadbolt throw and alignment
A deadbolt that does not fully extend into the strike is a latch, not a deadbolt.
Example: with the door closed, the thumbturn should rotate fully without pushing/pulling the door.
Solid-core exterior door
A hollow or deteriorated exterior door undermines good locks and strikes.
When not: do not replace a sound door before fixing an obviously weak strike and jamb.
Sidelights and glass near thumbturns
Glass beside a lock can turn the thumbturn into the weak point.
Fix: consider film, curtains, a double-cylinder lock only where legal/fire-safe, or hardware that keeps egress compliant.
Interior service door
Treat the garage-to-house door like an exterior door: deadbolt, reinforced strike, closed and locked.
Gotcha: a strong front door does not matter if the garage path is easy.
ANSI/BHMA Grade 1, 2, 3
BHMA defines Grade 1 as the highest product grade, then 2, then 3. Use it as a durability/security filter.
Do not misuse: a Grade 1 cylinder in a weak frame is still mounted to weak wood.
Rekey unknown key custody
New rental, new purchase, roommate change, lost key, cleaner/contractor turnover: rekey or change codes.
Example: do it before moving valuables in, not after the first missing item.
Convenience can be security
PINs and temporary codes can eliminate hidden keys and unmanaged copies.
Tradeoff: batteries, wireless dependencies, code sharing, and account recovery become part of the lock.
Pins before film
Pins and locks stop quiet sliding/lifting; film changes smash-and-reach into louder, slower work.
Do not block egress: security bars and keyed window locks are fire-exit decisions.
Track block plus anti-lift
Use a fitted track bar/dowel and anti-lift hardware so the panel cannot simply move or lift out.
Check: the bar should not be loose enough to hop out of place.
Safe must be bolted
A small unbolted safe is a carrying case with a lock.
Use when: documents, jewelry, cash, or firearms need delay and accountability.
Subscription math
Monitoring is worth considering when the discount, travel pattern, fire/water sensors, and verification features justify the recurring cost.
Not first: do not pay monthly while the back door still has half-inch strike screws.
Fake-only security
Fake cameras, stale decals, and signs without matching behavior are weak substitutes for delay, noise, and occupancy cues.
Use signs only: as truthful indicators of real systems, not as the whole system.
Do Burglars Pick Locks?
Usually, no. UNC's offender survey found most burglars reported entering through open doors/windows or forcing doors/windows; only about one in eight reported picking locks or using a previously acquired key.
Decision guidance: upgrade lock cylinders when keys are uncontrolled, the existing lock is low quality, or the door is already physically sound. If the strike, jamb, hinges, or sidelight are weak, fix those first.
Are Smart Locks Safe?
For most households, smart locks are access-control products more than forced-entry products. They help when they replace hidden keys, let you revoke cleaner/contractor codes, and record basic access events.
- Use when: family logistics cause doors to be left unlocked or keys to be copied.
- Avoid when: the door is exposed to weather beyond the lock rating, batteries will be ignored, or account recovery is sloppy.
- Minimum habit: unique PINs per person, no shared contractor code forever, and backup key stored somewhere boring but not outside.
Best Door Reinforcement
- Verify deadbolt throw: full extension without binding.
- Replace strike screws: use long screws into framing.
- Add extended strike: more screw points and better load spread.
- Reinforce jamb/hinge side: especially on older softwood frames.
- Address glass and garage paths: do not leave a bypass around the strong front door.
Inside the House: The 8-10 Minute Search
UNC offenders reported most burglaries were quick, often less than 10 minutes, and high-interest items were cash, jewelry, illegal drugs, electronics, and prescription drugs. Design the inside around speed: obvious places get searched first.
| Item / place | Risk | Better defensive pattern | Gotcha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master bedroom | Obvious search zone for jewelry, cash, firearms, prescriptions. | Store real valuables elsewhere or in a bolted safe. | A jewelry box on a dresser is an index, not concealment. |
| Office | Laptops, drives, checkbooks, identity documents. | Full-disk encryption, offsite/cloud backups, document safe. | A stolen laptop without backups is both theft and data loss. |
| Medicine cabinet | Prescription drugs are explicitly attractive in offender surveys. | Lock controlled medications; dispose of unused medication. | Guest bathrooms are not private storage. |
| Firearms | A stolen unsecured gun is the worst outcome on the page. | Locked, bolted, inventoried, or not owned. | A nightstand pistol is fast for everyone, not just you. |
| Small safe | Unbolted units can leave with the burglar. | Bolt to structure; photograph contents; record serials. | Weight alone is unreliable. |
| Decoy box | Can absorb a fast search if it looks plausible. | Keep a small amount of low-value cash/costume jewelry in an obvious place. | Do not store anything dangerous or identity-rich in the decoy. |
| Inventory | Recovery and insurance fail when you cannot prove ownership. | Photos, serial numbers, receipts, cloud/offsite copy. | Do it before the loss; memory is not documentation. |
Renter's Addendum
Portable door brace
Adds delay while you are inside, useful for travel or rentals where drilling is prohibited.
When not: it does not protect an empty apartment after you leave.
Adhesive window/door alarms
Cheap noise cue for accessible windows, sliders, and rarely used doors.
Gotcha: replace batteries and test after temperature swings.
Ask for rekey policy in writing
State and local law vary; many leases also define what a landlord will do between tenants.
Ask: "Were locks rekeyed after the last tenant, and when?"
Slider track bar
A fitted bar or dowel can add basic delay without permanent modification.
Check: pair it with anti-lift measures when allowed.
Renter's insurance documentation
The policy is only useful if you can document items, serials, and ownership.
Example: one video walkthrough plus receipts in cloud storage.
Package and mail routine
Piles signal vacancy and create easy theft before burglary.
Fix: hold mail, use lockers, or ask a neighbor before trips.
Common Mistakes and Anti-Patterns
Hidden key outside. The five obvious spots are obvious: mat, fake rock, planter, door frame, mailbox.
Premium lock, weak frame. You bought the wrong part of the door.
Vacation broadcast. Public posts, dark house, full mailbox, and packages stack into one signal.
Tools and ladders left out. Do not lend the entry kit to the person choosing targets.
Camera before door. Evidence is useful after the loss; delay may prevent it.
Master-bedroom safe spot. The first searched room is not a hiding strategy.
Alarm sign, open window. Selection deterrents do not fix access.
Assuming daytime is safe. Daytime vacancy is central to residential burglary risk.
Ignoring the garage. A strong front door and a weak service door is not a system.
Weekend Walkthrough Checklist
Front door: strike, throw, hinges
Confirm the deadbolt extends fully, replace short strike screws with long screws, check hinge screws, and note whether the jamb needs an extended strike or reinforcement kit.
Side and back doors
Repeat the front-door checks on the doors burglars are more likely to work on unseen.
Garage path
Close-door habit, remove remotes from outside vehicles, lock the service door, secure tools and ladders, and verify garage windows are locked or covered.
Accessible windows and sliders
Add pins or vent locks where needed, test slider bars, trim cover, and preserve bedroom egress.
Occupancy cues
Set variable timers/smart bulbs, arrange mail/package handling for travel, and avoid public vacation broadcasts.
Interior storage
Move valuables out of the obvious master-bedroom locations, bolt safes, lock medications and firearms, and record serials/photos.
Cameras and alarms
Only after basic hardening: check camera face angles, storage, lighting, false-alarm habits, and local response rules.
Sources and Verification Notes
- Blevins, Kuhns, and Lee, UNC Charlotte, Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender's Perspective: 422 incarcerated burglars; target selection, alarm deterrence, entry methods, tools, and desired items.
- BJS, Household Burglary, 1994-2011: NCVS definitions, long-run decline, unlawful entry, reporting, insurance, losses.
- BJS, Criminal Victimization, 2024: current NCVS property crime and burglary/trespassing rates, published September 2025.
- DOJ COPS, Burglary of Single-Family Houses: occupancy, visibility, access, repeat risk, dogs, doors/windows, and prevention responses.
- DOJ COPS, False Burglar Alarms, 2nd ed.: false-alarm burden, verification, and police-response context.
- BHMA product grade levels: Grade 1 highest, then 2 and 3, defined by ANSI/BHMA performance benchmarks.
- Retail price checks as of July 2026: Home Depot pages for 3-inch #8 screws, door reinforcement, window sash pins, smart bulbs, and smart plugs.
Related cheatsheets
Home Maintenance Guide for seasonal exterior checks.
Personal Cybersecurity for smart-lock accounts, backups, and identity risk after theft.
Scam Defense for Parents for household routines that reduce social-engineering risk.