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What are the weaknesses of single dwellings or apartments?

In single-family dwellings, 80% of forced entries are through patio or balcony doors at ground level. In apartment buildings the apartment door is the most vulnerable point and accounts for 46.9% of cases. In apartments, access was gained via the balcony-doors on the terrace or balcony in roughly 31% of cases, and in 21% of cases access was gained through the windows.

Overall, most burglaries occurred in apartment buildings. The risk of burglaries is by no means limited to lower storeys either. Apartments in the middle and upper storeys are also affected. Roughly one third of burglaries in apartment buildings are on the ground floor, and the rest are in the storeys above and consequently, the risk of a burglary occurring on any storey should be taken seriously.

The house or apartment entrance doors have proven to be the biggest weak points. Once inside the building, a burglar can access apartments on all storeys. Statistics show that most of the burglaries in the upper storeys take place during the day. This is because the stairwell in the upper storeys is less frequently used. The burglar therefore has more time to respond when he hears or catches sight of someone arriving home at the main entrance door. The perpetrator is therefore less likely to be disturbed than on the ground floor for example, where the risk of being caught when attempting the burglary is much higher.

Source: Police Headquarters Cologne (2012, p.10–11)

Prevention

Fortunately we are not completely defenseless against burglaries – we can also do something about it. The risk of a burglary can be massively reduced by taking suitable measures and by acting appropriately.

  • DIN EN 1627

    The purpose of installing burglar-inhibiting components is to prevent unauthorised access to a room or a building.

    To identify weaknesses in doors and windows, all burglar-inhibiting components, consisting of door leaf, frame, lock and hardware, are tested and certified as a whole according to DIN EN 1627. Six resistance classes are defined in this standard – from RC 1 to RC 6. Classes RC 1 N to RC 3 are used in the domestic sector, and classes RC 4 to RC 6 are used in the commercial sector. The resistance classes describe the ability to withstand a burglary attempt: the higher the class, the more secure the window, balcony-door or house entrance door will be.

    To find out what the best resistance class is for a particular situation, speak to a police advice centre or a certified specialist company. After all, burglar-inhibiting windows can only be effective if they are installed correctly.

Burglar-inhibiting measures for windows and balcony-doors

Burglaries in single-family dwellings are carried out in the majority of cases simply by jemmying open windows or balcony-doors.

The police therefore especially recommend burglar-inhibiting windows and balcony-doors for the ground floor and basement. Essential features of burglar-inhibiting windows include a robust window sash and window frame, high-quality hardware and handles, durable glazing and a professional installation.

A resistance class of at least RC 2 is recommended as burglar protection for new buildings and when retrofitting equipment in private houses or apartments.

An RC 2 window has the following components: lockable window handle and hardware with mushroom head locking cams that prevent the window from being jemmied out, and also burglar-inhibiting glazing. RC 2-N windows, in which standard glass instead of burglar-inhibiting glass is fitted, can be used instead of RC 2 windows. RC 1-N windows are sufficient in upper storeys if the window can only be reached using a climbing aid (a ladder for example).

Burglar-inhibiting measures for house and apartment entrance doors

Anyone who wants to make their house more secure should purchase a house entrance door with resistance class RC 2. This ensures that all components such as the door leaf, hinges, strikers, lock, cylinder and hardware as a whole do not have any weaknesses.

  • DIN EN 1627:2011

    A door has a burglar-inhibiting effect if it is able to withstand an attempt to forcibly gain access to the protected room or area behind it using physical force and assisted by tools for a certain amount of time.

Protective measures

Multi-point locks

SECURY multipoint locks by Gretsch-Unitas offer greater security, as the locks are equipped with two or more additional locks above and below the main lock case at the centre with latch and deadbolt. No manual locking is necessary with self-locking locks with Automatic latchbolt. This means the door is automatically more effectively protected against attempted burglaries.

The mechanical self-locking locking systems dispense with the need to actuate the central deadbolt by key. As soon as the door is shut, the Automatic latchbolts automatically throw 20 mm and are secured to prevent them being forced back – the door is locked when just pulled shut. These locking systems can be opened at any time via the lever handle from the inside and with one turn of the key from the outside.

Whether for fire protection doors, panic doors, or applications in a private home – these systems provide a comfortable solution everywhere.

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Mechanical locking systems

BKS satisfies the most stringent quality and security demands with high quality mechanical door protection solutions. The modern reversible keys are equipped with key duplication protection, and can only be requested by authorised persons with a security card.

The future needs of the keys and locking cylinders are ensured by long patent terms and flexible expansion possibilities for the systems. Mechanical access control can be supplemented and combined with electronic systems.

Security is the name of the game: bumping protection, featured as standard, takes care of this as well as the emergency function that prevents blocking by inserted keys.

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Video systems

The effectiveness of a CCTV system in deterring would-be perpetrators cannot be underestimated. This is because the progression of events is documented, which gives the police an essential starting point to their enquiries. The video images are recorded in real time which means you can see when danger is looming in advance and take appropriate countermeasures if necessary. The recordings can be accessed locally, using Internet browser or using an app via remote monitoring.

More information

General security advice

How do burglars operate? What can you do to protect yourself and your home? Here are the most important facts about burglaries – and how to act appropriately.

The best home security installations cannot prevent a burglary if tenants or owners do not act appropriately. Security-awareness and a vigilant neighbourhood also play an important part. Keep in touch with your neighbours – this enhances your quality of life and your security. After all, if the neighbourhood remains vigilant burglars don't stand a chance.

  • Be aware of suspicious activity, strangers in the building or on the neighbours' premises.
  • Keep the entrance to apartment buildings locked during the day. Make sure you know who wants to gain entry to the building before you press the door opener.
  • Check on the neighbours' apartments if they are away for longer periods so they looks like they are occupied.
  • When you leave your apartment, close all windows and lock the entrance door. If not, you are making things very easy for burglars. As far as burglars are concerned, tilted windows are open windows. As a rule, the insurance company will not cover you for any losses either.
  • Use light as protection: if the grounds and building are illuminated, this will deter would-be burglars. If nothing else, the entrance area should be well lit, using motion detectors, for example.
  • Carefully look after the keys to the house entrance door. Replace the locking cylinder immediately if you lose a key. Never hide a spare key outdoors or outside the apartment door – a burglar will always be able to find it.
  • There should also be no ladders, garden furniture and rubbish bins left outside in the garden, as a burglar could use these to climb on and reach the upper storeys.
  • Exercise caution in social networks. Do not post when you are going on holiday, or what you are currently doing on holiday, in a social network. Never leave a message on our answer machine informing callers how long you will be away from home. If you notice strangers in the vicinity of your home who are possibly observing the comings and goings of residents, you should immediately seek the advice of the police.
  • Convey the impression that your home is occupied. If burglars think they might come face to face with the occupants or a dog when carrying out their crime, this will put them off. A time switch that switches on the light in one or several rooms, or moves blinds up and down, conveys the impression that somebody is at home. Motion detectors can control lights in outdoor areas. Electronic devices mimic the sound of barking dogs or the flicker of a TV. Experts advise against installing fake cameras outdoors. Instead of putting off perpetrators, it sends out the message: "There's something worth taking here." On no account should your letterbox be allowed to overflow if you are away from home for a long time. Ask your neighbour to empty it.

In the event of danger (emergency calls, triggered alarm system) and in urgent suspected cases call the police.

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Advice from the GU Group