8 Hidden Weak Spots Burglars Target (and How to Reinforce Them)

Weak Wi-Fi protection

Increased home security measures, such as cameras and alarm systems, have helped lower the number of residential break-ins over the last five years; however, burglars are adapting. To disable these systems, which operate and communicate using Wi-Fi, Gromicko says thieves are now using Wi-Fi signal jammers to “stop all interaction between the home’s alarm and the company monitoring the home.”

How to reinforce: A strong Wi-Fi password that’s changed often will help protect your network from hacking, but signal jammers are harder to combat. “The only solution we’ve come up with is to add cameras that back up to themselves on a hard drive that remains at home,” Gromicko says. “That allows you to capture the video of the burglars, but doesn’t really deter them.”

Second-floor windows

While first-floor windows are a more obvious entrance point, “second-story windows can be breached by access from balconies, trees, fences or ladders,” Atlas says. Because homeowners often assume upper levels are out of reach, these windows are frequently left unlocked or lack the same level of security as those on the ground floor.

How to reinforce: Install windows with self-latching locks and ventilation locks. “Ventilation locks permit opening of the windows and sliding glass doors no more than 4 inches,” Atlas says. Additionally, secure any ladders on your property, as Atlas has seen several situations where burglars used a homeowner’s own ladder to gain entrance to a home.

Spare keys

A literally hidden source of entry for burglars can be spare keys tucked away for emergencies or accidental lockouts. Common hiding spots, such as welcome mats, flower pots or fake rocks, are easily discovered by burglars.

How to reinforce: Consider replacing exterior locks with keyless entry systems, such as smart locks or keypad entry locks, to eliminate the need for a physical key. But if hiding a spare, put it somewhere away from the door in a lock box or hitch safe, or leave one with a trusted neighbor.

Sliding glass doors

While the large glass panels in sliding glass doors let in a lot of light, they also allow burglars to get a clear look at your home’s interior. The glass is also easy to break. Sliding glass doors often do not come equipped with heavy-duty locks, making them easier targets for burglars to pry open.

How to reinforce: Install an aftermarket deadbolt and either a security bar or wooden dowel in the door track to prevent opening from the outside. Additionally, install laminated hurricane-rated glass that “protects against breakage and collapse of the glass, as if it was a tempered glass door,” Atlas says. Add curtains or drapes to inhibit the view from outside.

Basement entrances and windows

Typically located at the back of the house, basement hatchways, doors and windows offer poorly lit, private spots for burglars to work and gain entry to your home. Poorly secured hatchways and doors can be prime home security weak spots, as can single-pane basement windows. Burglars broke into my childhood home through an old wooden basement door that was secured with a flimsy sliding deadbolt.

How to reinforce: “Hatchways need to be heavy-duty hollow metal and be alarmed with door contact switches to alarm if opened,” Atlas says. Additionally, ensure that basement windows are not obstructed by landscaping, and consider installing horizontal security bars on the interior jamb. After our break-in, we installed a steel basement door with a reinforced bar lock and added an exterior light.

Pet doors

While pet doors are convenient, they can create an unintentional entry point for burglars. Cat doors are typically too small to pose a risk, but many dog doors are large enough for a burglar to squeeze through. According to Atlas, even when locked, most pet doors are a security weak spot. “Even the ones with locks are so flimsy that they offer little protection from a burglar or other animals. Unless you are able to provide a break-resistant lockable cover, then any pet door is a serious breach to your home perimeter,” he says.

How to reinforce: Install a steel, lockable cover over the pet door to block access when it is not in use.

Poorly secured exterior doors

Exterior doors can be easily infiltrated if certain security features are not present. Weak or missing deadbolts, glass windows and exposed hinges all make an exterior door less secure. The door material also matters. Atlas recommends only using a hollow metal or solid wood door.

How to reinforce: Instead of glass, use 1/2-in. polycarbonate in any vision panels, and always locate them on the hinge side of the door, “not the door handle side to prevent breaking through and reaching to access the handle,” Atlas says. Additionally, “the door lock should be a 1-inch throw deadbolt, with 3-inch screws in the strike plate if the frame is wood, and 1-inch metal screws if the door frame is hollow metal.” Replace standard hinges with non-removable door hinges.

Attached garages

Attached garages can be an easy spot for burglars to access expensive lawn or sporting equipment, or your home’s interior. Garage doors can be left open or have weak locking mechanisms. Interior doors leading from the garage to the home are often poorly secured as well, as homeowners may not view them as true exterior doors.

How to reinforce: Atlas suggests beefing up garage door security. “The garage door needs to be alarmed with a door contact sensor that goes off if opened,” he says. “[It] also needs to be heavy-duty hollow metal, with a break proof vision panel and heavy-duty dead bolt lock.” He also advises that the door from the garage to the house should be made of “heavy duty hollow metal and secured with a dead bolt lock, non-removable door hinge pins and a door position switch or contact to be alarmed if opened.”

About the Experts

• Nick Gromicko is the founder of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), a global organization providing home inspector training and certification.
• Dr. Randy Atlas is a nationally renowned security expert, trainer and author, specializing in crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). He is also president of Atlas Safety and Security Design, an architectural security design consulting firm located in Florida.

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