Most break-ins in the Charlotte area aren't about picking locks — they're about finding the easy way in. Here's what actually gets exploited, based on what I see on the job every week.
1. The Door Frame
A decent deadbolt means nothing if the door frame is weak. Most residential frames use short screws — sometimes just 3/4 inch — into soft pine. One solid kick and the frame splits. The fix is simple: replace the strike plate screws with 3-inch screws that go into the stud. Takes 10 minutes and costs almost nothing.
2. Sliding Doors
The built-in latch on most sliding glass doors is a joke. They can be lifted off the track from outside, and the latches wear out quickly. A $10 security bar in the track and a pin lock through the top of the door frame solves it. We see a lot of Charlotte homes — especially in newer subdivisions — where this gets missed entirely.
3. The Garage Side Door
The door from your garage into your house is often the weakest entry point on the property. It's out of sight, usually has a hollow core, and people forget about it when they upgrade other locks. Treat it the same as your front door: solid core door, Grade 1 deadbolt, long screws in the strike plate.
In most residential break-ins, entry was through a door — not a window. And in the majority of those, the lock itself wasn't picked or bypassed. The door or frame just gave way.
4. Outdated Locks
If your home still has the original builder-grade locks from when it was built 15+ years ago, they're probably Grade 3 — the lowest residential rating. Upgrading to Grade 1 hardware on your exterior doors is one of the highest-value security improvements you can make, and it's not expensive.
5. Spare Keys Outside
Under the doormat, in a fake rock, above the door frame — these have been known hiding spots for decades. So has everyone else. If you need a spare key accessible, give it to a neighbor you trust or use a quality lockbox with a combination that's not your birthday.
If you want a walkthrough of your home's entry points, give us a call. We do security assessments across the Charlotte area and can tell you exactly what's worth fixing and what isn't.
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