Burglars Don't Pick Locks. They Kick.
Movie burglars pick locks with tension wrenches. Real burglars kick the door, pry the frame, or try the handle and walk in. Police data is consistent: the front and back doors account for the majority of break-in entries, and most of those doors failed at the frame — not the lock cylinder. Here are nine upgrades, ranked by how much real-world protection they buy you.
The Ranked List
- 1. Three-inch strike plate screws ($5). The single best value in home security. Factory strikes are held by ¾-inch screws that grip only the door trim. Three-inch screws anchor into the wall stud, turning a one-kick entry into a shoulder-bruising failure.
- 2. A real Grade 1 deadbolt ($100–$250 installed). ANSI Grade 1 is the commercial standard: hardened bolt, drill-resistant cylinder, solid collar. Most homes have Grade 3 builder hardware — the difference under attack is night and day.
- 3. A reinforced strike box, not just a plate. A box strike catches the bolt in steel, spreading a kick's force along the frame. Combined with #1, this is what "kick-proof" actually means.
- 4. Fix the gap. If you can see daylight between door and frame near the bolt, a pry bar has all the invitation it needs. Adjusting the strike and hinges closes the gap — a 30-minute locksmith job on most NJ homes.
- 5. Hinge-side security. Outswing door? Exposed hinge pins can be tapped out. Security studs or set screws in the hinges cost almost nothing and remove the weakness.
- 6. A wide-angle viewer or doorbell camera. Not a physical barrier, but refusing to open for strangers defeats the most common trick of all: the knock.
- 7. Glass discipline. Sidelites and door glass within arm's reach of the thumb-turn mean a burglar breaks a small pane and reaches in. A double-cylinder deadbolt (keyed both sides) or laminated security film solves it — ask us which is safer for your layout, since fire egress matters.
- 8. High-security cylinders (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock). Worth it if you have reason to worry about unauthorized key copies — the keys can't be duplicated at a kiosk. For most homes, items 1–4 come first.
- 9. Smart locks — for control, not strength. Codes for guests and alerts on your phone are convenience features. A smart lock is only as kick-resistant as its bolt grade and your strike. See our honest take on smart locks.
The $150 "Do This First" Package
If we could upgrade every front door in New Jersey with a fixed budget, it would be: 3-inch strike screws + box strike + gap adjustment. That combination stops the kick-in — the attack your door will most likely face — for about the cost of a family pizza night.
What About the Back Door?
Everything above applies double to back and side doors, which offer burglars privacy. Sliding patio doors need their own treatment: a security bar or pin lock stops them being lifted off the track. During a security visit we walk the whole perimeter, not just the front step.
Want a door-by-door security check? We serve all of NJ — (201) 822-9313 or (973) 358-8464
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Paul Quick Locksmith offers 24/7 service across NJ. Call (201) 822-9313 or visit our services page.