5 Lock Questions to Answer Before It's Dark at 5 PM
Most break-ins occur during the day, when people are at work and nobody's home. But on Sunday, November 1, the clocks go back an hour, and the house now sits dark and empty for part of the evening too. Vivint, a security company, found that burglaries and break-ins between 5 and 7 PM went up 16 percent in the weeks after the time change in 2021. So the time change doesn't create the problem; it just gives someone a little more cover.
As nights get longer and days get shorter, I want to share some helpful tips to improve your safety.
My husband Mike has been a locksmith for a long time, and I ran the office at Mike's Locksmith for years. These are the five things we'd want you to check before November.
1. When did you last re-key your locks?
If you've never re-keyed since moving in, you don't know who has a key to your home. That's true in a secure building or gated community too, even if the previous owner was really nice. They may have given copies to a cleaner, dog walker, contractor, relative, or friend who watched the place while they traveled. This is exactly why rekeying at move-in isn't optional — and why it's never too late to do it if you haven't.
Re-keying changes the inside of your lock so the old keys no longer work. You keep your existing hardware, it doesn't take long, and it costs much less than new locks.
2. Does your deadbolt go all the way in?
Close your door and turn the deadbolt. If you have to push, lift, or jiggle the door to get it to lock, the bolt probably isn't going all the way into the frame. It may look locked when it isn't. Doors also shift when the weather turns cold, so a door that locked fine in the summer can start giving you trouble now. A lock that looks fine and isn't actually securing anything is one of the most common things Mike finds when he comes out for an assessment.
3. How long are the screws in your strike plate?
The strike plate is the metal piece on the door frame where the bolt goes in. In a lot of homes it's held on with short screws that only go into the wood trim, which doesn't take much to break. Longer screws that go into the wall stud behind the frame make the door much harder to kick in. It's a cheap fix and one of the first things Mike looks at.
4. Is your lock the one the builder put in?
Builder-grade locks aren't secure. They give you the look of security without much behind it. Many contain plastic parts and can be opened easily. It's best to replace them with quality locks from a trusted locksmith. If your key is wearing down faster than it should, that's often a sign the hardware underneath isn't holding up either.
5. Can everyone in your home lock up easily in the dark?
I'm a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, so I pay attention to this one. If a lock is hard to turn, or the porch light is dim, or someone in the house has arthritis or a weak grip, the door may not get locked every time. Sometimes people just stop using the deadbolt because it's a hassle. A lighted keypad, a lever handle, or a lock that turns smoothly can fix that.
A few other things
Put motion lights near your doors. Set a lamp or two on a timer so the house doesn't sit dark when you're out. And lock your doors and windows when it gets dark, even if you're going back out later. The burglary statistics are worth knowing before the clocks fall back - more break-ins happen during the day than after dark, and more cover at night only adds to the risk.
Get your locks checked before November
If you're in the DMV and weren't sure how to answer any of these, give us a call. Mike will come out himself to look at your locks, strike plates, and door alignment, and tell you what's fine and what needs work.
Estimates and assessments are free, and all materials and labor come with a 100% guarantee. Book your residential locksmith assessment here.
If you're in the DMV area and thinking about upgrading your home or business security - cameras, locks, smart access, or all of the above - we're always happy to talk it through.
Mike's Locksmith proudly serves homeowners and small businesses across Maryland, Virginia, and DC.
Also published on The Locksmith's Wife - read it on Substack
