by J.R. Hudson, Crime Prevention Specialist

In order for the doorjamb to allow the deadbolt lock to enter, a hole approximately ¾ inches to 1 inch in diameter must be drilled ½ inch from the inside edge of the doorjamb. This means that only ½ inch of wood stands between the burglar and entry to the home. The doorjamb is weakened further by screw holes being drilled to attach the strike plate, the doorknob latch, the hinges, and again if a privacy lock is installed. These holes create weak points in the door system making forced entry easily accomplished.

What happens when a door is forced?

When a door is forced, the deadbolt pushes against the strike plate and the ½ inch of wood left between the bolt and the inside of the home. This force seeks out the weakest points - the dead bolt hole and any screw holes in the doorjamb. With only ½ inch of wood to force, the jamb begins to split around the screws and along the grain of the wood. Sections of the doorjamb wood fall to the floor, and the criminal is inside the home with one swift kick!

There are regulations that require home builders and landlords to install minimum grade level doors and locks, but this stops short of completing the door locking system by not reinforcing the doorjamb. The best doors and door locks won't help if the doorjamb is not effectively reinforced. Often, when a door is kicked open, only the doorjamb is replaced with no real attempt to solve the actual problem. Therefore, residents of the homes are no safer than before.

So what do we do now?

There are doorjamb reinforcement devices on the market today that can help provide better protection for homeowners and residents. Some home builders in Houston, Texas are addressing this problem by using a new doorjamb reinforcement device called the KiK-Guard. This device is preinstalled at the door supplier, is not visible once installed, is inexpensive, and actually works. It can be installed to reinforce the door lock, and, if desired, the door hinges, greatly reducing forced access through an entry door.

In addition to reducing construction costs, consideration should be paid to the needs of future occupants. If a home builder or landlord is aware of a problem and fails to attempt to solve it, could he be liable for the damages incurred by the victims of the crime? Forced entry is well known nation wide with home safety a primary issue in the minds of all home or apartment dwellers. Perhaps home builders and landlords should be genuinely looking for solutions before someone makes this a costly legal issue.

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