(Some of the following excerpts were taken from a New York Times Article)
DON’T forget to lock up — it’s a sound practice, yet something many people forget to do, resulting in millions of break-ins nationwide every year, according to the National Crime Prevention Council, a nonprofit organization in Washington.
“I see it all the time,” said Victor Melendez, a locksmith at Umbrella Locksmith in Manhattan. “Even in New York, people tend to think they’re rather safe, so they just pull the door shut behind them and go about their merry way, and then someone walks right in.”
And if you have been robbed once, the likelihood of it happening again increases, said Gregg McCrary, a security consultant in Fredricksburg, Va., and a retired F.B.I. agent. “It’s very odd how crime is distributed,” Mr. McCrary said. “We don’t know why, but if you’ve been burglarized before, then the chances of getting revictimized are higher, and you want to think about upping security a bit.”
The easiest way to deter an intruder is with a deadbolt lock on the door. Expect to spend $55 to $75 for a standard deadbolt lock. Cheaper, mass-marketed deadbolts are easy to force open, but high security deadbolts are available at a significantly higher price point (Well Worth the Investment).“People assume that the locks sold to the general public are secure,”. “A lot of times, when the label says ‘fortress’ or ‘faultless’ or ‘defiant,’ they’re easy to pick, and the strength of the bolt isn’t very strong. The bottom line is, you get what you pay for.”
Even for renters, Mr. Melendez noted, a lock is a good long-term investment. “A lot of people don’t realize that if you move, you can take the lock with you,” he said. Store the old lock and its parts in a plastic bag, and reinstall it on your way out.
When you’re shopping for a deadbolt, there are three qualities to look for, according to Gale Johnson, a Chicago locksmith and editor in chief of the trade publication “The Locksmith Ledger.”
First, it should be labeled “Grade 1” or “Grade 2.” (Grade 3 is the weakest and should be avoided, as should the label “professional grade,” which is meaningless, he said).
Next, make sure it extends at least an inch into the doorjamb. “Some of the less-expensive locks may have a five-eighth of an inch throw,” Mr. Johnson said, which means the door “is far more susceptible to being kicked in.”
Finally, he said, the strike plate — Ideally, it should be a reinforced plate, with accompanying screws
that are at least two - three inches long.
If you are worried about tenants or contractors and service people copying keys, you may want to install a lock with restricted keys.
If installing a lock yourself seems too intimidating, you can pay a locksmith $150 to $200 to do it for you, a fee that should include the cost of a quality deadbolt. Proceed with caution, though, as the locksmith industry is rife with scams.
“There are companies that have 50 or 60 names that all encroach onto someone else’s name.
Our name is Valley Locksmith, we are in North Bend, WA and we can help you secure your home, rental or business today. Call 425.888.KEYS
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