Related Article Content

Breaks-ins in houses can generally be avoided if the person that lives takes a few precautions to protect their house. The majority of break-ins occur when the lock is removed from the front entrance, so it makes sense that a good way to protect your house is to protect the door. Door protection will present a challenge to a burglar who wants to get in, either making them give up, or at least spend longer in the process, thus making him more likely to be spotted and recognizable to someone.

Chains on the door, kick-in bars and steel mesh door guards are the 3 major residential burglary prevention door guards available on the market. By putting in a door chain, you can open the door a bit to see out, so strangers cannot force the door open and come in. Here is how it works: the chain slides into a slit on the doorframe, when the door is shut. The door must be shut and the chain unhooked to allow for entry.

Expect to pay between five to twenty dollars for door chain. The amount will depend on the quality of the chain. At the cheaper end of the market is a straight forward chain, easy to attach and use. Slightly more sophisticated is a chain that can be locked and unlocked from outside. Then there are more advanced door chains that can be used with a sliding bolt or have an alarm ready to go off if someone tries to force the door.

A residential burglary prevention door kick-in bar is designed to prevent a door from being forced open. It's a heavy-duty metal bar that is attached horizontally across the door. It's a two-point door lock that locks both sides of the door. It costs around $150.

Putting a steel mesh door in is a good way to protect your home. It is a big obstacle for an invader to overcome, and they will most likely give up before they succeed. This also provides additional protection for the door, and it's a way to speak with visitors before you let them in. This protection will set you back around six to seven hundred dollars.

Taking preventative measures against crime, rather than waiting until after it has happened, is a wise decision. Door guards in residential areas help deter burglars, thus preventing one from experiencing break-ins. They also help homeowners worry less, by protecting their home from unwanted guests.