Are you wondering how to secure your back door? When intruders want an unexposed entry point into your property, they usually go through the back door. By sneaking into your backyard, they can avoid your neighbors and gain access to your property.
To better secure your back door, you should upgrade the door locks and install security cameras. These changes will help prevent potential intruders from entering and catch them in the act with video footage.
While most homeowners focus on securing their front door, they leave a large weakness if they don’t pay attention to the back door. This article will cover the best ways to secure your back door and why you must focus on its security.
Burglary Statistics For Back Doors
In the most recent data, there were 619,811 property crimes documented in the United States in 2021. The overwhelming crimes in this category are residential burglaries, which make up over half of the documented crimes.
While most burglars enter through the front door, 22% of intruders enter through the back door of a home. If you want to keep your belongings safe, it’s crucial to secure your back door and ensure it’s difficult to enter.
Most burglaries happen with forcible entry, which means you must add security measures to keep criminals out of your home. These upgrades will make a massive difference in the safety of your property.
7 Ways to Secure Your Back Door
1. Upgrade Security Locks
One of the best ways to secure your back door is by upgrading the locks. A standard door lock is not designed for advanced security situations and will fail under enough pressure. Whether a criminal picks the lock or uses a crowbar, having better locks will put up more of a fight.
If your door doesn’t have a deadbolt, the first thing you should do is install a high-quality deadbolt on the door. A deadbolt helps secure the door in the wooden frame and spread out the contact points.
There are various product options, from standard deadbolts to keypad versions. As home security professionals, we recommend the Kwikset SmartCode 955. This premium deadbolt offers convenient features, a stylish design, and top-notch security.
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The solid design and enhanced security will help secure your back door from potential intruders. However, you won’t have to sacrifice accessibility with the programmable keypad and standard lock design.
2. Install Surveillance Cameras
Having a security system with cameras does more than secure your back door. You can have 24/7 surveillance around your entire property. Cameras are also an efficient criminal deterrent, with 50% of burglars saying they would not enter if they saw a security system.
When setting up a security system, you should install a security camera with a clear view of your home’s back door. Once installed, you can set up alerts and receive notifications if the camera senses motion in your backyard.
These cameras will prevent you from being surprised if a burglar breaks into your home and inform authorities immediately. While it can be a significant investment for homeowners, a security system is one of the best ways to protect a home.
3. Add Exterior Lighting
Criminals typically enter through a back door because they hide from the street lights at night. You should consider installing bright motion-sensor floodlights to give criminals nowhere to hide in your yard.
Whenever the light senses motion, it will illuminate your backyard and anything in the area. When paired with security cameras, you can have an effective duo of home security features for your safety.
The exterior lights will provide a clear shot of the potential thief and give evidence that you can give to law enforcement. Without enough lighting in your backyard, the criminal may get away as the footage is useless.
4. Apply Security Window Film
It’s not uncommon for properties to have a sliding glass or french door as the back door. These glass door options have a glaring weakness that criminals can exploit to enter your home. With one hit on the door, the intruder can break the glass and unlock the door.
Fortunately, security window film is designed for this purpose and will help solidify your glass doors. When applied to secure windows or doors, it won’t shatter if someone attempts to hit it with a hammer or crowbar.
The glass will shatter but remain in place without falling apart everywhere. However, it must be installed correctly to be reliable. If you aren’t sure how to install it, you may want to hire a professional.
5. Purchase Heavy-Duty Replacement Door
Unfortunately, most doors don’t have a solid core and can be quite fragile against the attack of a criminal. When intruders want to enter the home, they can kick the door or hit it with a hammer until it falls apart.
For enhanced security, you can purchase a metal or solid-core replacement door for your home. The door will make it difficult for someone to enter your home and provide more energy efficiency.
However, you may need to accept a door that doesn’t look as elegant as a hardwood door. A fiberglass door can be a good alternative if you want something with a good blend of security and style.
6. Install an Alarm System
After receiving an alert on my phone that someone had broken into my home, I was surprised to see that nothing had been stolen. The effects of a loud siren are effective in scaring intruders from walking into your home.
Alarms are also inexpensive, with a 10-pack of security alarms selling for around $20. While these alarm options won’t send security alerts, you can still frighten intruders and send them running.
Along with securing your back door, you can place these alarms anywhere around your property. From the garage entry door to a bedroom, these alarms help keep you prepared for an unexpected break-in.
7. Buy a Guard Dog
Having a guard dog patrol your backyard is a great way to keep potential intruders away from your home. While you can have an untrained dog in your yard, it’s better to have a dog with basic security training.
A guard dog can identify a threat and make the correct judgment on whether someone is a criminal. Various dog breeds have the natural instinct for protection and will secure your back door.
The most common guard dog breeds that you should consider are:
- German Shepard
- Cane Corso
- Dobermann
- Rottweiler
These breeds have a long history of being used for protection and will be easier to train for security situations. If you want to give criminals a warning, you can add a “Beware of Dog” sign on your property’s security fence that’s easy to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to reinforce a back door, start by upgrading the locks and installing security cameras nearby. These two security measures will make it difficult for a criminal to enter your home without being noticed. If you have a sliding glass door, consider an impact glass option for added protection.
The most secure back door type is a metal or fiberglass entry door. These door styles have a solid construction that won’t be damaged like a hardwood door option when kicked. Along with the solid door material, you should choose a door with high-quality locks that will keep your door secure.
Homeowners can reinforce their door so it can’t be kicked in by adding multiple lock points on the door. An impact will evenly distribute throughout the door when you spread the lock locations. Additionally, you can upgrade the door to have a longer deadbolt, making it more secure in the door frame.
Conclusion
When you want superior home security, you need to secure your back door. While it may seem like an afterthought, an experienced criminal will look to take advantage of your weak security preparation.
By following the steps in this article, you can boost the security of your home and have peace of mind you are safer. Implementing several of these techniques in your home will stop a criminal in their tracks and protect your belongings.
Let us know what other ways you secure your back door on your property!