Home security is one of the most important investments you can make as a homeowner. In the Greater Cleveland area — including neighborhoods like Old Brooklyn, Parma, Lakewood, and Garfield Heights — taking a few proactive steps can significantly reduce your risk of break-ins and give you peace of mind. Here are the top 5 security upgrades our locksmith experts recommend.
1. Upgrade Your Deadbolts to Grade 1 Locks
Most homes come with basic builder-grade locks that offer minimal protection. Upgrading to an ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt — the highest residential security rating — dramatically improves your door's resistance to forced entry.
Look for locks that feature:
- Anti-pick pins to resist lock-picking attempts.
- Anti-drill plates to withstand drilling attacks.
- Anti-bump resistance to counter bump key techniques.
- Hardened steel bolts that extend at least 1 inch into the door frame.
Brands like Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Schlage B-Series are excellent options. Our locksmiths at Quick Unlock Locksmith Cleveland can install and rekey these locks professionally, usually in under an hour.
2. Reinforce Your Door Frames and Strike Plates
Even the strongest deadbolt won't help if the door frame is weak. Studies show that the majority of home break-ins involve kicking a door open — and in most cases, it's the frame that fails, not the lock.
To prevent this:
- Replace the standard strike plate with a heavy-duty reinforced strike plate (like the Door Armor or StrikeMaster II).
- Use 3-inch screws to anchor it deep into the wall studs, not just the door jamb.
- Consider a door reinforcement kit that wraps around the door edge for maximum resistance.
This upgrade costs under $50 in materials and can be installed in an afternoon — or by one of our technicians during a service visit.
3. Add a Smart Lock or Keypad Entry
Smart locks offer convenience and enhanced security. They eliminate the risk of lost or copied keys and give you remote control of who can enter your home.
Key benefits of smart locks:
- Unique access codes for family, house cleaners, or dog walkers — revokable at any time.
- Remote locking/unlocking via smartphone app.
- Activity logs showing who entered and when.
- Auto-lock so your door always locks behind you.
Popular brands include Schlage Encode, Yale Assure, and August Smart Lock. Our locksmiths can install and configure smart locks on most standard door preps.
4. Secure Sliding Doors and Windows
Most break-ins don't happen through the front door — sliding glass doors and ground-floor windows are common weak points that burglars exploit.
Secure these vulnerable entry points by:
- Placing a security bar or wooden dowel in the track of every sliding door — even if it's locked, a bar prevents it from being forced open.
- Installing window locks or key-operated sash locks on all accessible windows.
- Applying security film to glass panels to prevent shattering.
- Adding a door sensor alarm that sounds if the door or window is opened unexpectedly.
5. Use Exterior Lighting Strategically
Darkness is a burglar's best friend. Well-placed exterior lighting eliminates hiding spots and signals that your property is maintained and monitored.
Best practices for security lighting:
- Install motion-activated lights near all entry points, including the driveway, side gates, and back yard.
- Use timer-controlled lights inside the home when you're traveling to simulate occupancy.
- Consider smart bulbs that you can control remotely and program to turn on when motion is detected nearby.
- Keep shrubs and hedges trimmed near windows and doors so there are no places for intruders to hide.
Bonus Tip: Get a Professional Security Assessment
Not sure where your home's vulnerabilities are? Quick Unlock Locksmith Cleveland offers professional security assessments. Our licensed locksmiths will inspect your property and provide personalized recommendations to strengthen your home's defenses — without pressure to buy anything you don't need.
Serving Cleveland, Old Brooklyn, Parma, Lakewood, Brook Park, Garfield Heights, and all surrounding communities. Call us today at (216) 860-2002.