Further Reading

The recent tragedy of the death of NFL player Sean Taylor in a home invasion has spawned many home security articles and much interest in security measures everyone can take to avoid such a disaster. For many, this will mean purchasing a new home security door lock with better features than what they now own.

When reading home security articles, several themes will be common to most of them. Having a good home security lock on every exterior door and keeping them locked is universal. Many will also recommend using alarms and home security services, but locks are the obvious first line of defense.

A lock is useless if it is not secured, and everyone in the family needs to be trained to lock every door every time. Don't make the mistake of hiding a key in an obvious place such as on a door frame, under a mat or in an easily detectable fake rock. If you really want a spare in case of accidental lockout, consider leaving one with a trusted neighbor or putting it in a coded lock box.

Articles about home security often talk about the various types of locks, including how much safety they provide. Obviously, an antiquated lock that uses a skeleton key is not the safest, but many current locks are also easy to break into. If one person can use a credit card to pick a lock, chances are most people are able to as well.

The box a security lock uses is also critical. It needs to be anchored into the door frame with 3" or better nails or screws, and should be rated as "kick proof." The bolt needs to be at least an inch and a half long as well. If there is glass nearby, a special lock is needed that can't be opened by breaking glass and just reaching in. Be careful to see what local codes permit, of course.

Many home security articles have been written regarding safety measures you should take if you're at home and your safety system fails. The best method is to hide in a closet with a cell phone and immediately call 911. If you have no opportunity to hide and are faced with intruders, make sure you never look them directly in the eye. Try to notice as many things about them as you can without obviously staring at them. However, the bottom line is that it's better not to have to deal with this situation at all by having high quality locks installed correctly before the problem happens.

Since the tragic death of NFL player Sean Taylor, who was a victim in a home invasion, there have been numerous home security articles and an increased interest in the security measures you can take to avoid such an occurrence. For many people, this will mean a new home security door lock that is an improvement over the one they currently have. Many articles will state the importance of having a secure home security lock and making sure it is locked on all doors that lead outside. However, using locks is the basis for a defending your home against break-ins.