Common Entry Points for Burglars – Why Steel Security Screens and Doors Are a Must

When we consider the risk points of a property, whether commercial or residential, we might believe that covert entry routes, concealed rear entrances and scalable fences are primary factors. However, crime figures show that the vast majority of burglars simply enter through the front door.

Steel security screens and doors are a vital, physical preventative that ensures any high-risk property, including vacant rental homes or business units, is impenetrable and cannot be accessed by anybody without a security passcode or key.

What Are the Most Common Entry Points for Burglars?

While many property owners, landlords and residents assume the front of their home is sufficiently secure or that criminals will not attempt to break in from a visible position, Nimble Fins reports that 58.7% of burglars enter through the front aspect.

Of all burglaries, 76.4% include entry through a door and 20% through a window – with only 1.1% damaging or destroying the door and 0.6% smashing the glazing to gain access.

Are Door and Window Locks Enough to Deter Thieves?

Standard external doors and windows often come equipped with locks. The issue is that these locks are basic, and you can buy similar models from any hardware store – although you would need a key cut to gain access without any signs of tampering.

More advanced locks, such as deadbolts, can be more robust, and pin locks are more secure for windows, but most properties are equipped only with the original locks provided with their doors or windows.

Ultion Locks adds context, clarifying that most criminals do not pick locks, nor do they require these skills to enter a property. Instead, they snap the lock, with only 2% of robberies involving locks being picked or bumped.

These statistics may be alarming but demonstrate why a standard door and window lock is insufficient, particularly for vacant properties or commercial sites where it is clear the premise is empty, and it is unlikely anybody will respond to the sound of a forced lock.

Landlords and vacant property owners are advised to invest in reinforcing both windows and doors to drastically reduce break-ins.

How to Protect Your Property and Belongings From Theft

There are several important steps to reducing the risk of your vacant property being targeted by a burglar, but there are no fail safes, and much depends on the security provisions you have in place.

However, by avoiding some of the typical mistakes, you can mitigate the potential of experiencing a robbery, including:

• Leaving windows or doors unlocked or opened when you are away from your property.
• Putting a key under a front door mat, inside a removable key box or above the frame.
• Relying on standard patio or sliding doors, which can be lifted out of their frames.
• Landscaping, fencing or hedging around the front of your property, concealing attempted intrusions.
• Installing dog doors without the same security as a standardised door lock.

One of the easiest ways to assess how vulnerable your property might be is to think about how you would get in if you were to lock yourself out – could you access a balcony and climb through an open bedroom window? Do you have a spare key tucked away somewhere outside? Are your pet doors large enough for a person to fit through?

Although we might not like to think about the quickest ways for a criminal to enter our homes or businesses, this process is essential, especially if you are away overnight, own a vacant property, or are planning a holiday.

Most home burglaries are opportunist, where a criminal scans an area to see which properties are unoccupied during the day, which homes have dogs, and where they have easy access without any visible security systems, alarms or CCTV.

Some techniques to watch out for include unexpected callers purportedly asking if something is still for sale or sticking flyers halfway into a letterbox to check whether somebody removes them.

Related reading: How to protect a vacant property 

Steve Hardcastle

Head of Sales
Clearway

Steve Hardcastle

Steel security screens and doors provide a physical barrier that standard locks cannot match, preventing unauthorised access without a security passcode or key and making properties significantly harder targets for opportunistic burglars.

Security Doors are the answer

Steel security doors are a smart investment in protecting your main entry point – your front door. For example, the Clearway Keyless Toreadoor was designed, manufactured and tested to the rigorous LPS1175 standard giving it Police & Insurance approval and effectively preventing any front door theft attempts.

Features include:

• Keyless access via unique 5-digit code
• Unique independent locking mechanism
• Cannot be removed by cutting-off the hinges
• Easy/rapid exit – you can never be locked-in

Related Reading: Keyless doors – what every keyholder wants. 

Security screens – a solution?

Screens are used for any property with an elevated break-in risk and can be fitted temporarily or for longer-term periods. These secure, steel window screens are engineered from tough metal with tamper-proof fixings, so they cannot be bent, removed or damaged without specialist tools.

The screens fit over the outside of a window with a steel framing system that doesn’t damage the brickwork or existing frame but covers the entrance completely.

Perforated screens are ideal since they allow for ventilation and natural light circulation, yet are resistant to arson, criminal damage and force – they cannot be crow-barred away and are a visible deterrent.

Where are Security Doors and Steel Security Screens Used?

They are suited to a vast array of scenarios, including:

• Vacant rental properties.
• Empty commercial premises or units.
• Properties where renovation or development is ongoing.
• Sites between tenancies.
• Premises where the owner is away or on holiday.
• High-risk sites during events or civil disturbances.

Steel window and door screens are highly preferable to conventional boarding, which can be levered away, and only acts as a temporary shield, primarily used while waiting for broken glazing or damaged doors to be fixed or replaced.

In contrast, a security screen is a pre-emptive preventative and makes a property invulnerable to burglary, securing every access point.

By taking general precautions, considering the suitability of your window and door locks, and avoiding the common errors we mentioned early, you can reduce the likelihood of being a victim of theft.

However, where the risks are higher, or the building or home will be empty, window and door screens can provide valuable peace of mind while safeguarding your property and possessions.

Written by Steve Hardcastle

Chief Technical Officer

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Steve Hardcastle is Chief Technical Officer at Clearway, bringing extensive leadership experience from across the security sector, including the management of NSI and ACS-accredited businesses and the founding of Cerberus Security and Monitoring, which he led for over 25 years.

Working closely with Clearway’s research and development team, Steve helps shape the Group’s technical direction by identifying innovative technologies that enhance service capability, support operational performance, and provide a competitive advantage. His role includes developing technology strategies that support business growth, while also strengthening and evolving the Group’s existing product range.

Steve also provides technical and practical support across the wider business, working with sales, marketing, and operational teams on solution design, product positioning, implementation challenges, and day-to-day technical issues. His broad industry knowledge and hands-on approach play an important role in ensuring Clearway remains at the forefront of security technology and service innovation.