Burglary Prevention and Security Tips from Experts

Most Common Burglary Methods and the Prevention thereof

Burglary prevention is the prevention of break-ins. To keep burglars from entering your home, it is helpful to know what methods they use and what can be done against them.

1. Enter

Burglars often get in by kicking in a door or window. You can strengthen the door by having us install an additional lock or locks to ensure that kicking in a window or door is not an option.

2. The Bulgarian method

Many mortise locks are fragile. This is because burglars can break the cylinder of your lock and pull it out. This is called the “Bulgarian method. Have locks installed on your windows and doors with the SKG (Foundation for Quality Facade Construction) seal of approval by one of our locksmiths. This works great as a burglary prevention.

3. Angling

Through angling, a burglar tries to push the door handle down with a coat hanger, for example. This method works only when the door is closed but not locked. When you go out the door, lock it and remove the key. The door opening via angling is then impossible.

4. Drill holes

Burglars drill a hole under the lock of a door or window. With a wire they turn the key and/or open the window lock. To avoid this, always remove the key from the lock.

5. Doorbell trick

This is a simple but very effective method. With an excuse, criminals enter your home. For example, they pretend to be from some company or charity. Most people have nothing evil in mind. Some, however, are out to take your money and property from you.

Always have a healthy distrust. Don’t just let people in, keep your PIN secret and watch out who you give your (spare) keys to. Do you have children? Then teach them from an early age to never allow strangers into the house.

6. Break-in

Burglars enter through doors and windows that are not locked. Officially, this is not breaking and entering. After all, burglary always involves damage. Always lock doors and windows at night and when you leave. This way you won’t make things too easy for criminals.

7. Flipping

By placing a pass between the door and frame, burglars open doors. This is called flipping. To prevent this, you can install anti-intrusion strips. An anti-intrusion strip falls over the seam of the door and the doorframe.

A burglar strip consists of two metal parts that slide together when you close the door. There is no seam between the two metal parts, making the door impossible to open with a pass.

Burglar Alarm

An alarm system helps to further protect your home.  In some cases, insurance will require you to purchase a burglar alarm: for example, if you have special works of art in your home or very valuable possessions.

Make it visible on the outside of your home that you have a burglar alarm. For example, by putting a special sticker on your window. This will deter burglars in advance.

Always have a burglar alarm installed by a company with a Borg or VEB (Association of European Security Companies) certificate. That way, you know that your alarm will be properly connected and that there alarm system installed is sufficiently burglar proof.

Hardware

Good burglary prevention starts with the right locks. The police and Locksmith 365 recommend that you choose a lock with the SKG seal of approval. SKG stands for Foundation for Quality Facade Construction.

It is an independent organization that tests, certifies and approves products for the facade industry. SKG gives locks a certain number of stars, the more stars the safer the lock. At have a variety of locks with the SKG seal of approval installed quickly.

Securing Windows

There are many ways to secure windows against break-ins. Below is an overview of the hardware we can install that will make your windows very difficult to break open:

• Multi-point locks: These are locks that lock the window in multiple places, which is why multi-point locks work great as burglary prevention. There is one operating point.
• Accessory locks: Locks placed in or on the window, especially if the main lock is not sufficiently burglar-resistant.
• Slip-on bolts: bolts that are mounted on the window. Overhead bolts are often used as secondary locks.
• Combi-expanders: A window expander allows you to leave the window ajar. With a window stay, you secure the window preventing it from closing or opening further. With a combination ejector, you can still close the window in the process.
• Window handles: A handle you use to open and close the window.
• Security Hinges and Thief’s Claws: It is important that windows that swing outward are also properly secured on the side where the hinges are located. You do this by installing at least two thieves’ claws. A thief’s claw consists of a metal pin and a ferrule. The pin is mounted in the window frame and the ferrule against it. If the hinges were removed, the thieves’ claws ensure that the window still remains closed. A security hinge is a hinge and a thief’s claw all in one.

Securing Exterior Doors

It is essential to ensure that exterior doors are properly secured. Our locksmiths at Locksmith 365 will be happy to advise you on the best way to make your exterior doors burglar-resistant:

• Padlocks: Main padlocks usually have a knob you have to pull. Side mount locks often have a rotary knob. Notice: there are very few padlocks with SKG approval.
• Mortise locks: Simple locks that burglars easily break open. Install security hardware to secure the mortise lock.
• Security hardware: Hardware is the metal that surrounds the lock and protects the lock. The metal of security hardware is much thicker. This makes the lock much harder to break open.Security hardware also has no screws on the outside, so burglars cannot screw the hardware out of your door. Choose security hardware that receives at least 2 stars from the SKG.
• Security hinges and thieves’ claws: Thieves’ claws consist of a metal pin and sleeve placed on the side of the hinges. Burglars can often try to remove the hinges after which they can easily remove the door opening. With a thief’s claw, your exterior doors will remain closed even if the hinges are removed. Install at least 3 thief’s claws to properly secure your exterior door secure. With a security hinge, you have a hinge and a thief’s claw all in one.
• Anti-burglar strip: An anti-burglar strip prevents burglars from being able to insert a screwdriver into the seam between the door and the frame and use it to break open the door.
• Auxiliary lock: This lock is installed when the main lock does not provide sufficient burglary protection.
• Multi-point locks: These locks lock the door in multiple places. The convenient thing is that you operate the locks at one point.
• Kierstandhouder: A bracket with a chain or lever that ensures that the door is only ajar to open keep unwanted visitors out.

At Locksmith 365, we know which locks work best as burglary prevention. Our locksmiths have a lot of expertise and are happy to share their knowledge when it comes to burglary prevention with you.

Our Work Area

Our office is located in the center of Amsterdam. Our working area is therefore Amsterdam and surrounding areas. In these places our locksmiths are in no time at your location:

Our Benefits:

What Can We Do for You ?

We operate in the Amsterdam area. Our locksmiths know everything there is to know about locks and burglary prevention. Have you problems with your locks? In these ways, we serve you:

• Has your home been broken into or attempted to be broken into? We repair the burglary damage.
• We install new locks.
• We replace your locks for example if you have lost your keys or your key has broken off in the lock.
• We make your door open if you havelost your keys lost, forgotten, lost, broken off or left on the inside of the lock .

Locksmith 365’s lock service 

One of our locksmiths will be beside youwithin 30 minutes . In 95% of cases, it opened the door within 8 minutes. For the repair, replacement and installation of locks you should call at Locksmith 365 are.

Our locksmiths additionally know a lot about burglary prevention. They will gladly provide you with free expert advice.

Contact details

Looking for a Locksmith Amsterdam West, North, East or South? Then you have come to the right place. Do you have any questions or comments or would like to make an appointment sometimes? You can always call us at our phone number: 06-19377776. You are also always welcome to visit our office. Our address is:

Address: Alblasstraat 11-1
Zip code: 1079 ZG
Location: Amsterdam

Frequently Asked Questions

What costs a lock replacement?
Without knowing your situation, it is difficult to tell what the lock replacement cost are. However, we can tell you that a common cylinder replaced in Amsterdam about 75 – 80 euros cost including everything. The total and final price lock replacement , however, is not known until we are aware of your situation.

What exactly is core pulling, or cylinder pulling?
In the case of core pulling/ cylinder pull the core/cylinder out of the lock. As a result, the lock loses its function. After a few small actions, burglars are in your home or building in no time. You can have your home or property used for this purpose secure toprevent break-ins.

How can I defend against cylinder lock pulling?
Call Locksmith 365. We install anti-niche cylinders and security fittings with anti-niche protection, with the SKG seal of approval. These security locksmake core pulling impossible. You feel 100% safe and you leave your own home or property with peace of mind.

Which anti-niche cylinder or hardware should I choose?
It doesn’t matter much what brand you buy an anti-knockout cylinder or security hardware with a core pull protection . However, it is important that they have an SKG seal of approval. Anti-knock cylinders and fittings with this seal are extra secure against core pulling.

What is an anti-intrusion strip?

A anti-burglary strip is a rock-solid barrier against a break-in at home or business premises. This system consists of two steel strips attached to door or window and frame. They hook together when closing door or window.

With anti-intrusion strips it is no longer possible to get between door and doorframe or window and window frame on the outside with tools or passes to door or window  opening. So make sure you don’t excluded become.

Are there different brands of mortise locks?

Yes, there are various front door locks such as, Nemef, Lips, Fiam, Ivana, Ikon and Zaso pen locks. This mortise locks are in most cases marked with an SKG logo.

Besides installing anti-burglar strips, what measures can I take in terms of burglary prevention?

Other measures that we recommend to you in addition to anti-burglary and anti-burglary cylinders and PKVW labels to prevent a burglary are the following: