Knowing how to improve home security with better locks is more important than most homeowners realize. According to FBI crime data, the majority of residential burglaries involve forced entry — and the most common entry points are front doors, back doors, and first-floor windows. The quality of your locks is your first and most critical line of defense.
The good news: upgrading your locks is one of the most cost-effective security investments you can make. You don’t need a full alarm system or professional monitoring to dramatically reduce your risk.
Start with Your Front Door
Your front door is the number one target for break-ins — not because burglars are bold, but because most front door locks are surprisingly easy to defeat. A standard builder-grade deadbolt with a short bolt throw (the metal piece that extends into the door frame) can be kicked in with one good strike.
What to Upgrade To:
- Grade 1 ANSI-rated deadbolts: The highest residential rating — look for brands like Schlage B60N or Medeco. These feature anti-pick pins, anti-drill plates, and a 1-inch bolt throw
- Reinforced strike plates: Most break-ins exploit weak strike plates, not the lock itself. Replace your standard 2-inch screws with 3-inch screws that anchor into the door stud — not just the frame
- Smart locks with auto-lock: Eliminate the risk of forgetting to lock up. Models from Schlage, Yale, and August offer keypad entry plus remote monitoring
Pro Tip: A door with a strong lock but a weak frame is still vulnerable. Add a door reinforcement kit (door armor) around the frame, hinges, and strike plate for complete protection.
Back Doors and Sliding Glass Doors
Back doors are the second most common entry point and are often the weakest because homeowners focus less attention on them. Sliding glass doors present a particular vulnerability — many older models can be lifted off their tracks or have latches that fail under minimal pressure.
- Add a double-cylinder deadbolt to back doors (keyed on both sides) — this prevents glass-break-and-reach entry
- Install a sliding door bar or Charlie bar in the track to prevent the door from being forced open even if the latch is defeated
- Apply anti-lift pins or security blocks to prevent the sliding panel from being lifted out of the frame
Windows: The Overlooked Entry Point
Standard window locks — the simple latches that come with most windows — offer almost no real security. They’re designed to keep windows from blowing open, not to stop a determined intruder.
- Sash locks with keyed cylinders: Replace flip latches with keyed locks on ground-floor windows
- Window pins: Drill a downward-angled hole through the inner sash into the outer sash and insert a removable pin — simple and extremely effective
- Window security film: Makes glass significantly harder to break quickly — an important deterrent since noise and time are what burglars fear most
Garage Doors
The garage is one of the most overlooked entry points. Many attached garages have interior doors with weaker locks than the front door — and if the garage itself is breached, that interior door is the only thing standing between an intruder and your home.
- Upgrade the lock on the door between garage and living space to a Grade 1 deadbolt
- Use a garage door lock bar or shield to prevent the release mechanism from being manipulated from outside
- Disable the manual release when away for extended periods — this cord can be tripped with a wire coat hanger through the top of the door
Smart Lock Considerations
Smart locks add convenience and remote control but come with their own security considerations. Choose models with 128-bit encryption, automatic lockout after failed attempts, and tamper alerts. Avoid Wi-Fi-only models in favor of Z-Wave or Zigbee, which are harder to remotely hack.
The bottom line on how to improve home security with better locks: prioritize the front door first, address every ground-level entry point, and don’t neglect the gap between access and resistance. Better locks won’t stop every determined intruder — but they will stop most, because most burglars choose the easier target next door.