Help with securing front door against crowbar attack

Ash_Pole

One of my neighbours was broken into just before Christmas, they got into the flat communal corridor somehow then crowbarred her door open. I want to secure mine a bit better. 

I have a 5-lever mortice bolt, but the bit it bolts into on the door frame (sorry don't know the proper name) is held on by 4 screws that only attach it to the wooden frame. I'm thinking I could use longer screws and go into the brick masonry. I'll need screws at least 8cm long, diameter 5mm, with masonry plugs. I can't see anything obvious on screwfix that will suit this, can anyone help point me to the right place?

HampshireH

You need to be very careful that whatever you do does not breach the doors ability to continue being a fire door. (Otherwise you will need a new door).

Your neighbour doesn't sound like a random attack 

Eldi_Dos

Look up Anti Jemmy Strip to see if that is something you could fit.
Weldit in Luton have it listed under burglary protection section and I am sure they would be able to advise if it has any adverse effect on fire rating.

HHarry

Screwfix have more 80mm screws than you can shake a stick at

https://www.screwfix.com/c/screws-nails-fixings/woodscrews/cat840066?screwlength=80mm

Although you might be better off with concrete screws that don’t need a plug

https://www.screwfix.com/search?search=Concrete+screws

Murmansk

The bit that the lock's bolt goes into in the frame is called the keep. If you want to make it more secure you could install what I think is called a Birmingham Bar - basically a strip of metal with holes in which is screwed to the door frame and goes over the keep so that the keep is effectively strengthened by being held with the bar which in turn is attached over a much greater length of the frame if you see what I mean.

Mr.Generous

Murmansk said:

The bit that the lock's bolt goes into in the frame is called the keep. If you want to make it more secure you could install what I think is called a Birmingham Bar - basically a strip of metal with holes in which is screwed to the door frame and goes over the keep so that the keep is effectively strengthened by being held with the bar which in turn is attached over a much greater length of the frame if you see what I mean.

Not for a mortice lock though. That's a nightlatch fix.

DullGreyGuy

Ash_Pole said:

One of my neighbours was broken into just before Christmas, they got into the flat communal corridor somehow then crowbarred her door open. I want to secure mine a bit better. 

I have a 5-lever mortice bolt, but the bit it bolts into on the door frame (sorry don't know the proper name) is held on by 4 screws that only attach it to the wooden frame. I'm thinking I could use longer screws and go into the brick masonry. I'll need screws at least 8cm long, diameter 5mm, with masonry plugs. I can't see anything obvious on screwfix that will suit this, can anyone help point me to the right place?

You dont need more/longer screws on the keeper as long as the frame is well connected to the wall. You can reinforce the door frame with a steel bar, you can get straight ones for those with just mortise locks as well as the stepped type for those with a night latch. 

Ideally you want more locking points, it could be extra mortis locks if you want it to operate when you are inside and outside the property or deadlocks if your ok with it only protecting when you are inside. 

Ultimately if someone wants in, they will get in. The police spent 30 minutes trying to get into a neighbours property to execute a search warrant, its a fairly standard composite door with multi-point lock and half decent cylinder. They made a mess of the door and frame but it kept them out until the guy unlocked and opened the door for them. They came back a few weeks later but better armed this time and just used a cement cutter to cut the door in half vertically and were in within a minute. 

twopenny

Blimey DullGreyGuy. You've some determined police there.

I agree, that doesn't sound like a random break in because it's too easy to get caught in a situation like that. Burgulars want quick in, quick out without being overlooked.

2 reasons stuff like that happens. They have a grudge or they know there's something valuable in there.

But I can understand why it would make you want to be more secure

Murmansk

Mr.Generous said:

Murmansk said:

The bit that the lock's bolt goes into in the frame is called the keep. If you want to make it more secure you could install what I think is called a Birmingham Bar - basically a strip of metal with holes in which is screwed to the door frame and goes over the keep so that the keep is effectively strengthened by being held with the bar which in turn is attached over a much greater length of the frame if you see what I mean.

Not for a mortice lock though. That's a nightlatch fix.

Well indeed, for a mortise lock you just need a straight bar with no right angled bits in it

Lorian

One easy option would be to fit a second lock a rimlock/nightlatch further down the door at least a foot lower than the mortice lock. Will mean unlocking the mortice lock then unlocking the rimlock each time you get home. If you do this you could still add a London bar (upside down) or else look at one of the Yale British standard rimlocks with a long keep (but there quality is certainly not what it was). Fitting those BS rimlocks needs good chisel skills to fit the keep.

robatwork

twopenny said:

Blimey DullGreyGuy. You've some determined police there.

I've watched more police and bailiff programmes than is probably healthy.

I've learnt that the "big red key" battering ram is effective on most doors. But when they know it's a composite door they don't use the ram, but an angle grinder/concrete rotary saw, and go down the middle, then break it out from the middle. It's a good recommendation for the composite door.