subject: Double Lock Your Upvc And Composite Doors [print this page] A UPVC door is a great asset to any home, offering complete weather protection and a longevity conventional materials couldn't hope to match. An almost infinite number of styles are possible by combining a variety of door panels with clear, stained or leaded glass features. Similarly, the widest range of hardware is available to compliment your Upvc door choice, from letterplates to handles, the choice is yours. With so many choices to chose from, have you thought about safetly? For example, would your stylish door attract the wrong sort of attention, for example from burglars?
You have probably heard in the media that there has been an increase in burglaries since the beginning of the recession but with summer coming and all those doors and windows left open around the house, police are expecting even more.
Police have seen a significant increase in burglaries where entry is gained via a UPVC multi-point locking front or back doors. A multi-point locking door has a central lock, which engages additional bolts or hooks when the handle is lifted.
There is a common misconception with UPVC doors that if you shut your door and pull up the handle then your door is locked and people from the outside cannot gain access. This is not the case, UPVC doors are not securely locked unless you push the handle up to engage any additional bolts then use the key to lock it. Only by locking with the key are you fully securing your door. Burglars have been using homemade devices to bypass the 5-pin locking mechanism when the doors are not locked with the key. I have read that a thief can tell from the outside of a PVC door if it is double locked or not. If its not the burglar only has to use a screwdriver to jam the door open or put something through the letter box to push the handle down and as the handles are in the same place either side they can fabricate something on their side of the door then put it through the letterbox.
Always remove the key from the lock and keep it nearby Do not leave it within sight of the door or window where it could be hooked out through the letterbox. For safety make sure that everyone in the household knows where to find the key in case they need to get out in an emergency.
Always check your front and back doors are secure even if you are in the house. Some burglars will still attempt to break in, even if the house is occupied. Also you may find that you are not insured as your home was not fully secured and all because you didnt lock up properly using the key! An unlit house during the hours of darkness also has an increased risk of being burgled. Keep yourself safe and always double lock your doors and windows.
