Front door security

[jwa1d62]

Hi folks,

When considering an Elk M1 Gold, I came upon a more fundamental question.

I have a front door that has a side light on each side. The side lites are half-height and are glass.
What are my options to prevent someone from breaking thru the side lite glass, reaching in, and turning the dead bolt lever to gain access?

Currently I have a double cylinder dead bolt, which requires a key from both sides. I'd really like to explore getting the new KwikSet Z-Wave dead-bolt, but it has a lever on the inside.

Thank you for any ideas/guidance!

-Jim

 

[fabriziojoe]

Hi folks,

When considering an Elk M1 Gold, I came upon a more fundamental question.

I have a front door that has a side light on each side. The side lites are half-height and are glass.
What are my options to prevent someone from breaking thru the side lite glass, reaching in, and turning the dead bolt lever to gain access?

Currently I have a double cylinder dead bolt, which requires a key from both sides. I'd really like to explore getting the new KwikSet Z-Wave dead-bolt, but it has a lever on the inside.

Thank you for any ideas/guidance!

-Jim

I have the same situation and just put a motion in the entry way. In addition, you could thrown in a glass break.
I thought that deadbolts with double keys were no longer sold due to egress issues. I.E. there is a fire and you cannot find the key.

 

[Steve]

I've used piezo glass shock detectors like this in those situations.

 

[Sandpiper]

Hi folks,

When considering an Elk M1 Gold, I came upon a more fundamental question.

I have a front door that has a side light on each side. The side lites are half-height and are glass.
What are my options to prevent someone from breaking thru the side lite glass, reaching in, and turning the dead bolt lever to gain access?

Currently I have a double cylinder dead bolt, which requires a key from both sides. I'd really like to explore getting the new KwikSet Z-Wave dead-bolt, but it has a lever on the inside.

Thank you for any ideas/guidance!

-Jim

I have the same situation. I used glass break sensors in addition to security film. The film does not stop would-be theives from breaking the glass, but will very much slow them down, or deter them entirely. Do a Google search for security film.

 

[JonW]

I have the same situation and just put a motion in the entry way. In addition, you could thrown in a glass break.
I thought that deadbolts with double keys were no longer sold due to egress issues. I.E. there is a fire and you cannot find the key.

They are still sold. There are many uses for them outside of a residential front door.

A good friend of ours has them on every exterior door of the house - to keep their 11 year old son IN.

 

[apostolakisl]

deadbolts scare me. I just can't imagine my child unable to open the door in a fire.

You can't really stop an intruder from getting in, you can make it hard to get in without setting off alarms. If the sidelights are too small for a person to fit through, I wouldn't worry about alarming them. When they unlock the door and open it, the alarm will sound. If they are big enough, then the other comments on motion detectors and glass break detectors should do the trick.

 

[gatchel]

If people want to get in they will, the more noise you make the better. That being said, I would rather have a break in once a month than have someone get trapped in the house because of a double keyed deadbolt...

 

[jwa1d62]

thanks everyone !

I will investigate the security film. The piezo sensors are hardwired and I am a wireless guy , but I may be able to send their output to a wireless transmitter - love the no power required.

BTW, my wife and I have no children, and have the key 'stored' right around the corner from the double cylinder lock. So we're good, but the points re: egress are well taken.

 

[programmergeek]

Stop trying to prevent people from getting in it is impossible. There is alwas a window or a door etc. What happens if you want to leave a window open. Put the sensor on if they see it, it is a deterent. Better yet hang a camera but don't wire it people see thoes they run to the next house. Put a couple of motions inside and a loud siren you are good to go. A glass break is a good idea if you can have the alarm go off before they get in that is better.

 

[russban]

thanks everyone !

I will investigate the security film. The piezo sensors are hardwired and I am a wireless guy , but I may be able to send their output to a wireless transmitter - love the no power required.

BTW, my wife and I have no children, and have the key 'stored' right around the corner from the double cylinder lock. So we're good, but the points re: egress are well taken.

As Lou Apo said, if you have a door contact the alarm will go off when the door is opened, but if you want the alarm to go off quicker there are wireless glass break detectors from GE that will work with the ELK.