By Mario McKellop
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, crime is on the rise in America. The FBI's 2016 Crime Statistics Report revealed that crime increased by 4.1 percent from 2015 to 2016. And the Los Angeles Times recently reported that the situation is even worse in LA County, with cities like Torrance and Long Beach experiencing near double-digit crime increases in the last decade. To protect their properties and families, Los Angeles-based homeowners should make their living spaces burglar-proof by buying a security screen door.
Security screen doors and burglary prevention
To start, it should be understood that when breaking into a home, 34 percent of burglars go in through the front door. Given that property crimes cost Americans $15.6 billion in 2016 alone, Angelenos have a significant financial incentive to secure their homes with quality security screen doors.
Security screen doors look like regular screen doors but are constructed to resist breaching. Most commonly made out of metal, these doors prevent against forcible entry by way of impact, knife, tool or pull down attack. While most chain hardware stores carry a wide variety of cheap security screen doors of various levels of effectiveness, it's best to purchase one from a retailer that specializes in personalized home security solutions, such as Wynstan.
What to look for in a screen security door
When shopping for a security screen door, it's important to find a model that provides protection against the widest range of attacks. As a 189 lbs. man can easily launch a physical attack with 100 Joules of force (J), it's important to find a security screen door that can withstand multiple 100J+ impact attacks. Similarly, a security door screen should be made with materials that can withstand a sustained edged weapon attack. It should also be sturdy enough to resist being pulled down and rugged enough to stand up to a leveraged assault on all of its hinging, locking and fastening points.
As such, its good idea to purchase a security screen door from a company like Crimsafe as its units have been rated to withstand blunt instrument, knife and screwdriver based attacks, amongst other benefits. Additionally, Crimsafe security screen doors are constructed of 304 Grade stainless steel Tensile-Tuff Mesh, and feature a 0.9mm cross-section that is 26.5% thicker than industry standard 0.8mm screens. Accordingly, they can't be kicked in, pried loose or cut.
Being secure without sacrificing aesthetics
Another reason why it's a good idea to buy a Crimsafe security screen door is that they lack the unsightly bulk of other deterrents such as burglar bars. From the exterior, Crimsafe products look like an ordinary and visually pleasing screen doors. From the interior, they allow you to enjoy all of Los Angeles County's sunny days and scenic vistas unencumbered. That unique blend of pleasing aesthetics and home safety is something that an off-the-floor security screen door simply cannot provide.
Click here or call 1-866-667-6799 to schedule a free, in-home, personal security screen door consultation with a representative today.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, more than 327,000 burglaries took place across the nation in 2015, accounting for more than $390 million in losses and costing victims an average of about $1,200 apiece. Are you familiar with the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” Essentially, this means that homes with security systems and other measures in place to prevent break-ins are far less likely to be favorable targets for burglars, and one of the ways you can reduce your chances of becoming a victim is to add security screen doors to your main points of entry.
Why? For starters, about 70 percent of all burglars enter homes through doors, rather than windows, highlighting the importance of stepping up your security game in this area. Here’s how you can burglar-proof your security doors to boost the chances that a prospective intruder will go elsewhere.
Opt for metal
Ask yourself: What’s more likely to deter a burglar? A wooden door, or an iron one? Secure doors are solid and built to stand strong in the face of blows, kicks and the like. You can add interior reinforcements to enhance home security even further, but metal doors are generally the strongest, sturdiest option you’ll find in the modern marketplace. The look of iron is a visual deterrent as it conveys the security intentions of the homeowner.
Add deadbolts
Even the strongest security doors aren’t going to do much good if you don’t lock them, or if you have inferior hardware. Add a deadbolt to improve peace of mind and prevent potential intruders from making their way inside, where your family and valuables await them. When it comes to deadbolts, this is an area where you may not want to choose the cheapest model – you don’t necessarily need to invest hundreds, but it’s certainly worth your while to bypass the cheap, generic model you find at your local hardware store in favor of a stronger one. First Impression Ironworks uses state of the art Kwikset and Schlage hardware to ensure the lock meets the same time-tested standards as all other security aspects of the door.
Cut back on shrubbery
While it’s true that adding plants, bushes and shrubbery to the exterior of your home can improve exterior aesthetics, it is unwise to install greenery close to your doors and windows, where they can serve as hiding spots and mask unwanted intruders. Take care not to plant anything in an area where it can obscure you and your neighbors’ viewpoints.
When it comes to home security, the stakes are too high to take unnecessary risks. Consider investing in an iron security door, and make burglars that much more likely to move on to the next home.
Seek strong frames
While the strength of your security screen door is essential, so, too, is the strength of its frame and doorjamb. Regrettably, however, many homeowners overlook these areas, and their security suffers as a result. Even if you have the strongest security door on the market, a potential intruder may still be able to work his or her way in if they can easily kick out the doorframe. All Security Screen Doors by First Impression Ironworks come standard with a 4” x 1.5” gauge steel frame—the thickest on the market! This, coupled with extended one-way security screws ensure that the security door cannot be simply be pried open or even off the home.