Installing a 12” strike plate for security

[Sid Post]

Interesting that the OP of this thread was 'last seen' on the forum on the day he posted it. Hope the situation didn't go pear shaped.

Yep, things like his situation can totally dominate your days or weeks.

 

[JPR4200]

Hello Guys,

We’ve had 12 door break’ins in the last 2 weeks. Kicking in back doors the main MO. Wife is on edge when I’m traveling.

Besides the wife getting a .38 snub, I’m going to install these 12” strike plates and sub 3.5” stainless steel screws. In doing so, i have to remove 12” total of the copper flashing.

Is there anything that’s cost effective I can retrofit that 12” area to help keep in the cool air and keep out the heat? I have 4 of these so I’m going to repeat this process multiple times.

Pls see pic of product and 2 of the 4 thresholds. Thank you very much in advance.

You could also add a Don Jo pick guard plate to the door itself, not the frame. I understand the door is being kicked in, and the pick guard is meant to stop someone from getting to the latch, but it also helps distribute the surface area that needs to be breached when kicking in a door from just the latch width to several inches depending on the model you purchase.

 

[TimberFarm]

whats going to stop them from going to another door instead? or going in a window which is much easier to break into?

You might add a Panic switch that your wife could use with a remote. Have it turn on several bright outside lights mounted way out of reach and a few very loud sirens and alarms. Let the whole world know that she is ready.

This could easily be setup for when the house isn't occupied as well.

I did some work for local cops and they told me the number one entry for home break in was through a basement window.
They said most have bushes around them to conceal them and they can be broken easily without a lot of noise.

 

[tradosaurus]

I came out of the woods one day last winter and the GSD across the road went on full alert, standing 1/2 way between the road and the house, keeping an eye on me while barking. The other 2 dogs there joined in... standing on the lawn looking up the road as they had no clue what they were barking at.
Eventually the lab saw me and ran out into the road to say hi. At that point I crossed the road onto the lawn. I'd rather take a chance on getting bit than see a good dog get run over.

Until you meet a pit bull big enough to cause you pain and suffering. We were taught growing up that humans come before animals.

 

[tradosaurus]

Do it the smart way. Hot wire all reachable doors and windows. It only takes once to teach a bear, and people are supposed to be even smarter than bears.

This isn’t speculation, it’s simply part of living remotely. I only mention it because it may be knowledge lost or not known to newcomers to country living.

And because it is kinder. gentler, and more effective to teach rather than destroy.

rScotty

It only takes once for a neighbor kid to get shocked for you to get sued to oblivion. Great idea for living out in the country but not in a town or city.

 

[Shenandoah MF1760]

Myself, I would prefer a shotgun for my wife. But I get the argument for a handgun, which is what is my choice for me.

I second the shotgun in general, however, I have an S&W Governor that can fire 2.5" 410 shells and for a hand cannon it's surprisingly light especially when compared to the Taurus Judge. The Hornady SelF-Defense rounds are particularly nasty.

 

[Shenandoah MF1760]

In Canada our houses are pretty solid because of our winters. I remember hearing that in many warmer places you can cut your way through a wall with a box cutter knife and not bother with the door.

That might have been true many moons ago, but walls need to be well-insulated to ward off the heat now, Roofs on the other hand are not as robust as they don't need to worry about snow weight, although we do (here near the coast) have hurricane clips on them.

 

[rScotty]

It only takes once for a neighbor kid to get shocked for you to get sued to oblivion. Great idea for living out in the country but not in a town or city.

Law suits are always a possibility. That changes nothing.
It is still a personal choice whether to support an educational solution or a violent one.
As long as our choices reflect ourselves, there are going to be preferences in both directions.

 

[tradosaurus]

Law suits are always a possibility. That changes nothing.
It is still a personal choice whether to support an educational solution or a violent one.
As long as our choices reflect ourselves, there are going to be preferences in both directions.

Changes everything. Just like owning a swimming pool. You better have a locked fence around it.
Even having a guard dog presents risks for lawsuits.
A kid is more likely to get shocked by your defense mechanism than break into your house and get shot.

 

[rScotty]

Changes everything. Just like owning a swimming pool. You better have a locked fence around it.
Even having a guard dog presents risks for lawsuits.
A kid is more likely to get shocked by your defense mechanism than break into your house and get shot.

I understand that avoiding a lawsuit is important to you. That's a personal choice.
My choice is to take on the risk involved in finding a different way to fix a problem.
Not necessarily better, but possibly so.

 

[Shenandoah MF1760]

Regarding dogs. They are as varied as people are.

I have a 65 lb pit and two Aussie shepherd mixed mutts @ 40 & 50 lbs.

The pit and 40 lb mutt would defend us to the death, while the 50 lb one would hide cowering behind us. They are all alert barkers though and it would take a truly drugged-up person to consider entry.

 

[Flogger]

My sleeping buddy keeps 10 rounds of #8 with him at all times. At self defense range a shotgun is just a large caliber musket.

 

[jmc]

My sleeping buddy keeps 10 rounds of #8 with him at all times. At self defense range a shotgun is just a large caliber musket.

"And though the holes were rather small,
they had to count them all."

 

[groundcover]

a malinois dog is all you need.

 

[number two]

And the OP is still missing in action!

 

[terraformer]

With completely through the house and over to the neighbors. A rifle is for follow ups and longer ranges which aren't going to happen in a house.

You must live in a city or HOA.

 

[LouNY]

You must live in a city or HOA.

not hardly;

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Ultrarunner,

In Europe doors can be like vaults with cams on all 4 sides for max engagement into the steel frame.

I have seen some of those doors in Europe. Also some heavy steel with locks like that with concrete walls! You are not getting in easily or any time soon without making a heck of a racket !

I kind of like the oak doors on the Pantheon in Rome Italy, 4" thick ! Good luck trying to get through those ! Of course they are also 30 or 40 ft high !

 

[newbury]

Interesting that the OP of this thread was 'last seen' on the forum on the day he posted it. Hope the situation didn't go pear shaped.

And the OP is still missing in action!

Actually he's talking about pressure switches.

I think when the well was turned off during the cold [lines drained] they crawled in their and when the power was turned back, they got fried...

 

[tstex]

All,

Thank you for the responses and apologies for not keeping pace with timely follow-ups. My email auto notice for some reason just stopped working.

The strike plates are installed, I used nine 3.5" stainless steel screws and used a thin 8 ft rubber strip I customized to insulate the door jam to the door when it's closed. This seals off the airflow, makes for a snug fit when the door is shut and dead-bolted.

And, we have 2 dogs at home and they make A LOT of noise when anyone comes to the door.

Thanks again, tstex