Doors are essential for our homes and allow us a chance to give a little character to the front of our homes. However, you may be unaware that your door may be attracting people for the wrong reasons.

If you already have a home security system in place or are considering purchasing one then the following tips will help to improve the security of your home.

The majority of homes in Britain seem to be content with a sturdy front door and a single lock to prevent intruders from entering their property. Using one or more of the following additions you can improve the effectiveness of your door in no time.

• Spy Holes or door viewers are an effective way of viewing who’s at your front door. If you have a door with a spy hole instead of a window you are reducing the amount of glass that a burglar could smash to gain entry or reach a door latch.
• Letterboxes are another way that people can try to gain entry to your home. Make sure that your letterbox is as far as possible from any locks on your door to stop anyone from reaching through to gain access. For the same reason don’t leave keys hanging on threads from the letterbox. If your space is limited when positioning your post box you can stop burglars from reaching through by fitting a cage or letter catcher around your post box.
• Hinges are one of the main determining factors for the strength of your door. Make sure that the hinges of your door are fixed in place securely. Long screws will reinforce the grip your door has on the frame making it difficult to use brute force to open it. Fitting hinge bolts or security hinges will also provide more protection.

The following locks are recommended for improving the security of your front door.

• Rim Latches are locks which lock automatically when your door closes. They can be opened from the inside without a key but need a key to open from the outside.
• Deadlocks are the next level up from rim latches, improving the strength of your door against forced entries. Unlike rim latches, deadlocks need a key to be opened from the inside and outside of your house. If fitted on the front and back door of your home deadlocks are a strong deterrent as any burglars would need to literally break into and then break out of a property.

Mortise Deadlocks are an improved version of the traditional deadlock design. When fitted more than halfway up the door mortise deadlocks put up a strong resistance to attempted break-ins. Deadlocks are physically impossible to break and can only be opened using a key. If a burglar gains access to your property through a window they will not be able to escape through a deadlocked door. This seriously limits what can actually be taken from your property and is a strong, visual deterrent.