Reddit reviews Defender Security Bronze U 11126 Door Reinforcement Lock – Add Extra, High Security to Your Home and Prevent Unauthorized Entry – 3” Stop, Aluminum Construction Anodized Finish

>I hate guns

This is a response that a lot of people have who didn't grow up around guns. However, don't let that emotional response affect your safety. If you're open minded in having the best self defense tool available, go take a gun safety course. Preferably one that includes live fire after classroom instruction. This will demystify firearms, which for most people, removes the fear of them. After this, you should still have a healthy respect for them and what they can do. To keep them inaccessible to your children, get a quick access safe.

Whether or not you get a gun, here's some other things you can do:

• Door Jamb reinforcement kit. These cost between $8 and $70 depending on how heavy duty you want to go, but they will make your door many times stronger than it is currently. Here's a basic one: https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-10385-Strike-Accommodates-Centers/dp/B00D2K33NG/ - this comes with 3 inch screws to anchor into your studs behind your door frame.
  
• Replace hinge screws with 3 inch screws. If you have the door jamb reinforcement kit, you should do this too to take care of the hinges which may still be vulnerable to kick ins.
  
• Additional door security: https://www.amazon.com/Defender-Security-11126-Door-Reinforcement/dp/B00QR2QCJI - these will make it harder to break in while you're home.
  
• Additional door security: https://www.amazon.com/South-Main-Hardware-810185-Adjustable/dp/B0742TN5X6 - another thing to keep your door closed.
  
• If you have a window near your door that could be broken to unlock the door, consider window security film, which will make it harder to break.
  
• Get a monitored alarm system. Either professional install (ADT, etc.) or one that you install yourself (SimpliSafe, Abode, Scout, etc.). Typically the ones you install yourself do not come with contracts, but you have to buy the equipment up front.
  
• Security cameras can get expensive, and they can't stop a crime in progress, although they may be a deterrent if a would-be burglar sees them. I would skip this until your budget increases. The money you would have spent on that will go further with the other suggestions mentioned.
  
• That being said, a doorbell camera (Ring, Skybell) can be a great tool for when you're not home. Some burglars will knock or ring the doorbell to determine if the house is empty (they would rather break into an empty house). If you have a doorbell camera, you can respond to them when they knock or ring, making them think that you are actually home which is likely to make them leave.

get a door hardening kit. You want one that will replace the hinge screws with atleast 3in long screws, a metal bracket to wrap around the door where your locks are to prevent splitting, and a long metal bar on the frame of the door with long screws. Here's what i put on my doors:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E9ZGWH2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_x_dNu5xbKJXZD15

You can also replace all your locks with higher security locks, don't get electronic locks as they have a bad history. If you want to make things a big pain in the ass for an intruder replace deadbolts with double cylinder deadbolts. That forces anyone who breaks in to go out the same way they came in as they cant unlock your doors. Came in a window? They're going back out the window.

Edit: there is also this, which looks pretty good.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QR2QCJI/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_x_PZu5xb0DVAH4F

But really, a properly hardened door will be very hard to kick in and will give you plenty of time to react.

I've had this and this in my Amazon shopping cart for months now. As soon as my wife and I find the house we want to buy, and move out of our rental, I'm purchasing both and installing them forthwith.

I installed a few of the Door Reinforcement Locks and they're amazing. We tested one on a remodel, we used sledge hammers in order to get in, but it wasn't what broke first, it was the hinges that gave... But it took a lot of time, enough time for someone at home to call the police, lock and load.

https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-Products-11126-Blocker-Anodize/dp/B00QR2QCJI/ref=pd_sim_60_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=C3Y2DCYCAVSDCA023P28

For your own home, I think something like this would be better.

Sincerely,
Richard Nixon

There is a different kind of safety lock that takes up absolutely no room. Both chain locks and door latch type of lock (that are in hotels nowadays) can easily be thwarted. They are essentially privacy locks. I haven't seen this kind be opened yet (though I'm sure there is some way). https://www.amazon.com/Defender-Security-11126-Door-Reinforcement/dp/B00QR2QCJI You should be able to find it on your amazon. There's even a little video showing how it opens and closes.

And yeah, locks are ridiculously pricey. They do sell non-smart locks with a keypad that allows you to change the code. https://www.amazon.com/Schlage-FE595VCAM619ACC-Camelot-Keypad-Flex-Lock/dp/B001GPL5WU Again, this is not a smart lock, it can't do anything wirelessly, you can't unlock it from your phone, etc. It has "auto lock"and "flex lock" you can choose. Buy an auto lock and the door is always locked so you leave the house and the door locks. Buy a flex lock and you can turn it so that it's a regular door knob, when you leave the house it's not locked (great for when you have visitors over or if the person buying has kids going in and out of the house). But this might be a good option for you, the keypad that can change at your whim without the price of a smart lock.

Sorry about the autocorrect, I meant light on your gun is a must. Also, if you don't enter your basement from the outside, this lock will make it much more difficult to kick in the door: https://www.amazon.com/Defender-Security-11126-Reinforcement-Aluminum/dp/B00QR2QCJI/ref=pd_sim_60_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=G3RRMBR9WMXWYM1Z6C8D

Get a front door that doesnt have a window, or has a very small window. You can also get a door with a steel core and no windows for added security.

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If you have any first floor windows, plant thorny bushes in front of them and keep them at window height to discourage entry through a window. Yes someone can still get over a thorny bush, but its going to create an additional time and inconvenience for them when breaking in, as compared to a non-thorny bush, or a window with no bush at all. The point of all of this and the following is just to increase the time it will take for a successful entry, burglars arent (too) stupid, and will pick softer targets than you that they think they can get in, and get out of quickly. Their ideal home is one where no one is home, the entry is easy, and they can grab items of value and get out in under 4 minutes. If the door takes 6 minutes to kick down, its not going to work. If they can't bump the lock, or cut through glass on the door to unlock from the inside, its not going to work. If they can't quite reach the window with their cutting tool because of the thorny bush, and they have to cover it with a jacket and awkwardly climb over, its not going to work. You want them to be forced to make noise to enter, while slowing their time to enter. Noise can alert neighbors if you're not home, and if you are home it can give you time to chamber a round in your rifle, turn the optic on, put on your electronic ear protection etc. That way you can have fun instead of quickly grabbing your pistol off the nightstand because its the only gun you keep in condition 1/0. You want time to prepare, and you want to know they're coming. Everything below is centered around slowing down thieves and home invaders and making their entry louder.

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Consider the following products.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GWF2R70/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d

Installed around the door frame this steel lining makes it EXTREMELY difficult to kick down or batter down a locked door, and also isn't visible.

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HZD8S8G/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A3XQ9YU/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d

If you don't have a very secure door lock, you may consider one of these two products as they prevent burglars from "lock bumping," which is a common lock-picking technique for people who have the typical door locks that you can buy at home depot etc. and aren't very secure.

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E3FJQSA/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d

Another way to combat lock-bumping is to buy a very secure door lock like a medeco, the keys required to lock bump a medeco are far rarer than those to bump a home depot lock, and most burglars simply don't have them.

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QR2QCJI/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d

Last but not least a metal door re-enforcer can stop a door from being kicked in if the steel frame and lock are defeated, but I think this product is overkill if you already have a steel frame and high quality lock.

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Also consider a gun in case some does manage to get past all of this. However, despite being a gun owner, I don't really think owning one is necessary, as it is a last resort. Most forced entry is done through the door or windows, once you secure those, you simply need to be vigilant when entering and exiting your house. Have a camera or peep-hole to see who's there before you open the door, if you can't see them or they don't answer, don't open the door. Most home invasions depend on the home owner opening the door and allowing entry or upon someone kicking the door lock in. While most burglars are dependent on lock-picking, broken windows, or entry through windows. A burglar will run if they think someone is home or that someone might spot/hear them. A home invader is hoping someone is home

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When coming home, don't unlock your car doors until the garage is closed and be vigilant for someone on foot following you in as you park. When departing the home do the opposite. Keep the door to your house from your garage locked as well.

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Don't display wealth or possessions outside of the home. Some people think those signs that say Secured by .45 or whatever with a gun depicted on them scare burglars. But really all it says is that "when I'm not home there are probably guns here for you to steal." Guns, Jewelry, Cash, and to a lesser extent electronics are going to be targets for burglars, and signs like that advertise that at least one of those things will be inside to be worth stealing.

Reinforcement lock or the ol' fashioned bar stop are prob best bets for an apartment. The screw holes will be hidden in the door frame so probably won't be noticed on inspection if/when you remove it. The bar is a classic...both only work if you remember to set them though.