My mom is buying a new lock

[E1001]

What type of lock, for a front door, is best in terms of the security it offers for the price? I don't want her to have to get a lock that can be opened by sneezing on it, just because it's super cheap.

[yng_pick]

The hardware/big box stores around me seem to carry only Kwikset and Schlage.
I wouldn't suggest going with kwikset- the new(er) smart key is nice in that it resists bumping and picking (to a very good degree), but it is much too easily bypassed. Schlage is nice, they are a little more difficult to pick then the real cheapies. For better security I would recommend going to a locksmith shop and inquiring about higher security locks (assa, medeco, etc). Of course that is a bit more expensive, so it depends on the range of price that she is considering.

When trying to decide how much to spend on a deadbolt, it is important to take other factors concerning the entrance. If the framing is weak, or there is a lot of standard glass around the door, putting in a 200$ deadbolt might be a bit futile.

I used to like Baldwin for looks and quality, but since they switched to using smart key kwikset cylinders, I no longer would recommend them.

[yng_pick]

Also- I assume it is a deadbolt that you are looking for- if there isn't one, that is a definite security upgrade that should be taken care of. If security when she is home is a priority, I might also suggest considering a single sided deadbolt as well, where there is the thumbturn on the inside with a standard bolt, but nothing on the outside.

[mhole]

Also- I assume it is a deadbolt that you are looking for- if there isn't one, that is a definite security upgrade that should be taken care of. If security when she is home is a priority, I might also suggest considering a single sided deadbolt as well, where there is the thumbturn on the inside with a standard bolt, but nothing on the outside.

I always avoid suggesting any kind of bolt or lock which can be locked from the inside and not opened from the outside. In an emergency this can prevent a relative or friend who has keys from gaining access to the property, and can also be used as a tool by intruders, who lock the door from inside to avoid being disturbed.

[Josh K]

Also- I assume it is a deadbolt that you are looking for- if there isn't one, that is a definite security upgrade that should be taken care of. If security when she is home is a priority, I might also suggest considering a single sided deadbolt as well, where there is the thumbturn on the inside with a standard bolt, but nothing on the outside.

I always avoid suggesting any kind of bolt or lock which can be locked from the inside and not opened from the outside. In an emergency this can prevent a relative or friend who has keys from gaining access to the property, and can also be used as a tool by intruders, who lock the door from inside to avoid being disturbed.

+1. Double lock (locks inside and outside) or single (thumbturn inside, lock outside) but never just a thumbturn.

Personally I'd want something like a Schlage Everest on the deadbolt. You can't pick gun it open unless you bypass the checkpin, and right there you're taking out 99% of thieves. You should also make sure to put a decent strike plate on and reinforce the doors / windows. The majority of people don't pick your locks, they break a window.

[E1001]

Hmm well there are large windows next to the door, so I think as a price consideration the lock probably won't matter much, since no matter how secure it is, someone could just break the windows.

[Josh K]

Hmm well there are large windows next to the door, so I think as a price consideration the lock probably won't matter much, since no matter how secure it is, someone could just break the windows.

Right, so reinforce the door frame, and put a nice Everest / BEST / Bilock / something under ~$50 deadbolt in.

Breaking windows make a good deal of noise, so yes they could just break them, but you also want to deter them from jimying the door.

[yng_pick]

Also- I assume it is a deadbolt that you are looking for- if there isn't one, that is a definite security upgrade that should be taken care of. If security when she is home is a priority, I might also suggest considering a single sided deadbolt as well, where there is the thumbturn on the inside with a standard bolt, but nothing on the outside.

I always avoid suggesting any kind of bolt or lock which can be locked from the inside and not opened from the outside. In an emergency this can prevent a relative or friend who has keys from gaining access to the property, and can also be used as a tool by intruders, who lock the door from inside to avoid being disturbed.

I would say it depends on the situation then. In a true medical emergency the fire department will tear through a door whether or not they can see the lock. If you have medical conditions, are elderly, or something similar, then perhaps it is not a good idea to not have one.

And if you come home, and the bolt is thrown from the inside, it might be a bit better then walking in on the burglar :p

[MacGnG1]

the problem with recommending locks to family members is that they don't wanna spend more money than the amount they have already decided to spend. so just let your mom know what to stay away from and what to look for.

[zeke79]

The best bang for the buck out there for a very high security lock is hands down bilock. A very nice lock that you could pick up from either globallockytoo or www.securitysnobs.com. They are suprisingly alot more affordable than you think for the level of security they give you. Personally I like the bilock cylinder installed into the arrow deadbolt hardware but that is just personal preference. There is alot of other good hardware out there. If you want a high security lock cylinder WITH drill protected, high security deadbolt body then there is nothing that compares to the abloy protec deadbolts but they are much more expensive than the hybrid bilock deadbolt I mentioned above. Either one would make an exceptional lock.

[raimundo]

How many keys come with those bilock cylinders. ? What do you do to get one duplicated?

[lockinabox]

There were huge factory price increases on BiLock locks. They now cost just about the same as the Protec, some of them cost a good deal more.

[jwhou]

The thing is that some insurance policies won't pay for theft unless there's evidence of a breakin hence having a lock that resists bumping is good and one that is sufficiently hard to pick that they would rather break that window. Once the window is broken, you should be good for compensation on whatever is taken.

[unlisted]

sigh.. bumping leaves evidence, so does picking, snap guns, etc. So no worries there really.

[Evan]

sigh.. bumping leaves evidence, so does picking, snap guns, etc. So no worries there really.

Evidence, yes...

Stuff that anyone is going to go looking for in 99.999999999% of the times such things occur in the real world, no... It is your house and just its contents -- so it is clear what was inside and what is covered under your policy... It is not like a case of commercial burglary/industrial espionage where trade secrets were stolen which could result in untold hundreds of millions of dollars worth of future losses...

If insurance companies took the locks apart and put them under microscopes to look for traces of picking attempts, impressioning, or bumping, each time there was a reported claim of no damage during a residential burglary there would be an exponentially larger number of forensic locksmiths in North America than presently exist...

~~ Evan