Situations :: House / Flat Security - Doors

	During or before construction, it should be kept in mind that, there should be minimum number of doors to provide entry into the house.
	If extra doors are required for special occasions, such doors should be securely locked and preferably cross-barred from inside.
	Entry points should be kept well lit at night by security lights (26). This should not be done only at the main entry point but also entrances at the rear or on the sides of the house.
	Entry points not visible from the main road / street / neighboring house etc. should be kept securely locked from inside and well lit at night or covered by security lights(s26).
	Security lights(26) that are automatically switched on whenever anyone approaches the entry point are a better alternative to the normal lighting system as this can conserve electricity and also prove to be unnerving to a criminal because of a sudden and unexpected occurrence. The criminal gets a feeling that someone in house has noticed him & has switched on lights to investigate.
	The main door to the house should be a solid and strong wooden / metal door. Doors with ply board panels can be easily kicked open.
	Main door should have a peephole and a security chain.
	Location of peephole is very important. It should cover a wide enough area to see how many visitors are there. It may even be advisable to have two peepholes. If there is stranger then always open the door with security chain in latched position.
	Do keep in mind that Peephole only shows a certain area and if a criminal is sitting on the floor then the peephole will not show anything, prompting the owner to open the door to investigate (and walk into the trap). If you decide to open the door, first do with Security Chain in pace and then peep through the opening before venturing out.
	Locking system of the main door should be strong. The bolt or the locking arm should go at least one inch deep into doorframe. The main door and other vulnerable doors must be covered by Intruder Alarm system(s12).
	Metal doorframes are stronger than the wooden frames. Metal doorframes hold the lock/bolt arm better. Criminals find it easier to cut through wooden doorframes.
	Sliding doors are not very secure as these can be pried open or lifted out of the channel/ track by placing a metal rod/bar or a strong wooden log in the door channel / track.
	Door at top end of stairs (Mumti) is as vulnerable as the main door as it connects the terrace to the main house. This door is generally built of cheaper and weaker material. It should be strong, preferably of metal, and should be kept securely locked, at least at night. It is desirable that an Intrusion alarm(12) device should be installed on this door as on the other doors also. Since this door is not usually used, it gives extended opportunity to the burglars to break it.
	Wire mesh in doors / windows can be easily cut, even with a sharp knife. So it is important that doors / windows are secured by lockable bolts or embedded locks so as to increase the effort required for break in.
	For bay-doors or large windows that act as a passage, it is advisable to have grills fitted in the window/door frame so that security is enhanced. It is desirable to cover such openings with an Intrusion alarm(s12)
	Doors that open inside are less secure than those that open towards outside as it is easier to kick open the door as compared to pulling open the same.
	Doors that are secured by Brass tower bolts should preferably not have brass screws as brass screws are weak and are normally put in smaller length, making it further insecure.
	The design of grill has a major impact on security. Designs which do not have many welds with outer frame can easily be broken.
	IMPORTANT - The doors can be secured by using Intruder alarms(s12), PIR(s126), Motion detectors (What's this ?,s123) etc. By using such gadgets you get warning incase some door is opened. This allows you to be prepared for the intruder. At the same time intruder will get scared by the alarm and in most likelihood would disappear. The alarm and lights will also catch attention of neighbors & passer by. The alarms can be linked to Flashing lights (s26) & Autodialer(s45) for automatically informing police or neighbors, using a phone. If the doors are far off or in large premises CCTV can be helpful to keep watch.