Starting with the Basics of Home Security:
- The average home only takes seconds to break into because the outside doors are secured with very small screws
- In order to prevent the doors from getting kicked in, replace the screws in the striker plates and the hinges with 4 inch long deck screws
- Adding a heavy duty barrel bolt to the top of the door will further solidify it
- Make sure that your door is metal and not wood (wood is stronger, however metal bends and will not splinter under pressure)
- If you do have a window in your door, make sure that it is high enough up and small enough not to allow anyone to simply break the glass and open the door by reaching through
Breach Methods
In order to be able to properly update your home security against mass numbers, you need to be able to understand the common methods used to break into a home by professionals. Let's take a look at how a Swat Team or Law Enforcement do it. There are 3 different types that you should know about:
- Mechanical – using tools or a vehicle to force through (mostly used by Swat Teams)
- Ballistic – using a projectile weapon to break through (not a smart idea if you are firing against metal doors as they will ricochet)
- Explosive – it is what it sounds like, using explosives to break through (mostly used by the Military)
The Battering Ram
Battering Rams or breaching tools in general are usually designed to be used at waist height. They are used to force the door open with minimal effort. For most homes, this can be done with only one strike.
Adding heavier screws to your door and stronger locks as part of your home security can and will stop this form of entrance. Placing a barrel bolt at the top of the door will cause the invader to have to hoist the battering ram up and over their head in order to reach it. (That is if they are still determined to keep using this method once they discover the door isn't not giving.) Using the battering ram in this way is harder to do because you are now fighting against gravity.
Metal Doors
Industrial Metal Doors are much stronger than any metal door used in the common home. They are virtually impenetrable when it comes to mechanical breaching. However, this momentous strength will do you no good.
Your attacker(s) are going to take one look at that door and either turn to explosives or head for the windows. (Personally, I’ll just target the walls and blow a hole through it.)
When it comes to home security, it is better to use the standard home metal door to maintain an ordinary look so that they aren’t expecting much resistance. They will waste quite a bit of time on the door before they realize that it is not as easy to break into as they thought.
Keep in mind that wood doors are a weak point. They will break and splinter. A metal door is more likely to bend with the blows thus lasting longer under strain.
The Dynamic Breach
Dynamic Breach - any kind of fast, violent, breach (break-in) used to get through barriers or obstacles (i.e. doors and windows)
Dynamic Breach uses 3 things
1. Speed - less time to react
2. Surprise - causes shock (makes you freeze)
3. Violence of Action - aggressive breech causing you to be
too afraid to react (intimidation factor)
1st Stage: Speed
The speed factor during a dynamic breach is used to approach the building in a swift and stealthy manner. This is done so that the target is not aware of their coming and thus does not have time to react.
2nd Stage: Surprise
Because the approach was so swift and silent, the surprise factor gains momentum and becomes a mental demoralizer. The target is usually too stunned to react. (Like a deer in the headlights.)
3rd Stage: Violence
Combine a stealthy approach, a surprise entry and add in the violence factor. (Lots of yelling, pointing guns and shooting unless you comply immediately.)
Seconds Count
A well trained Swat Team that works together can breach and clear their target area within 15 seconds. So unless your home is properly fortified and you have a good defensive plan, you will not have the time to react. They will run right through you.
However, if you are properly prepared you can effectively stop them. It doesn’t take much to throw a stick into their plans. Stop that dynamic breach and you’ve blown their minds. Most don’t know how to handle losing. Start by properly fortifying your home. This interferes with the speed and surprise factor that they were shooting for.
Just Scratching the Surface
There are so many things to consider when you are planning your home security. The methods mentioned in this article just scratch the surface. Here is a free checklist you can use to refer to when putting it all together.
More on Home Security:
You can use this resource to help in find a reliable security system to compliment your home defense plans: https://www.safety.com/best-home-security-systems/
