The 15-Minute Home Security Checklist Every Williamstown Household Should Do

Most break-ins don't involve clever lock picking. They exploit unlocked doors, weak frames, flimsy screens and spare keys in obvious places. Grab a coffee and walk your home with this list.

Front & back doors (5 minutes)

• Every external door has a deadlock, not just a handle lock.
• The deadbolt throws fully into the frame — no forcing or lifting.
• Strike plate screws are long (they should reach the stud, not just the frame trim).
• Hinges on outward-opening doors can't be easily removed.
• No glass panel within arm's reach of a thumb-turn.

Security screens & sliding doors (3 minutes)

• Screen door locks engage at all points.
• Sliding doors have a secondary lock or bar in the track.
• Sliding panels can't be lifted out of the track when locked.

Windows (3 minutes)

• Ground-floor and easy-to-reach windows have keyed locks.
• You know where the window keys are (for fire safety, keep them nearby, not in the lock).

Keys (2 minutes)

• You know exactly who has a key to your home.
• No key under the mat, pot plant or fake rock.
• If you've moved in recently — locks have been rekeyed.

Garage & side gates (2 minutes)

• Internal garage-to-house door is locked like a front door.
• Side gates are padlocked or latched from inside.

Fix in this order

1. Unknown key holders → rekey.
2. Missing deadlocks on external doors → install.
3. Sticking or misaligned locks → repair/adjust (a lock you fight is a lock you stop using).
4. Sliding doors and windows → add secondary locks.

Want a second pair of eyes?

We can inspect your doors and locks and give you an honest list of what's worth fixing — and what isn't. See our residential locksmith services or call 03 6413 6719.