Berkshire Village Locksmith Pros · London
Break-In Damage Lock Repair: what to note first
Locksmith · London, Ontario
The shop's aluminum door has a bent meeting stile and the hookbolt is jammed half out. The alarm did its job and the display is untouched, but the entrance will not close properly and opening time is hours away.
Worth answering before the call
Have you photographed the damage as you found it? Would you like stronger hardware fitted while the door is being repaired? Have the police been called, and do you have an occurrence number?
What is a security strike box and why fit one?
A security strike is a heavier plate with a formed steel pocket that wraps around the bolt instead of leaving it in bare wood. It is set into the jamb and fixed with long screws, typically three inches, that pass through the jamb and the shim space into the framing, with the longest screws placed nearest the door stop where the bolt bears. Manufacturers specify the pocket depth so the bolt extends fully. The result spreads a kick across the wall stud rather than two small screws.
The intruder pried open our sliding patio door. Can it be made secure?
Yes. The panel goes back on its track and the broken latch is replaced, then the weaknesses a slider is born with are addressed: anti-lift blocks in the upper channel so the panel cannot be raised off its rollers, a foot bolt or pin lock through the frame at the bottom, and an auxiliary keyed lock if the latch alone is flimsy. A bowed frame may need a door installer, with the opening secured until they come.