Your home should be the one place where you and your family feel safe.
Unfortunately, burglars are constantly looking for easy opportunities. They study homes, look for weak points, and take advantage of simple security mistakes that many homeowners don't even realize they're making.
The good news is that most break-ins are preventable. Once you understand how burglars typically gain access to a home, you can take steps to make your property a much harder target.
In this guide, we'll cover the five most common ways burglars break into homes and the practical steps you can take to protect your family, belongings, and peace of mind.
1. Kicking In the Front Door
When most people think of a break-in, they imagine a burglar picking a lock. In reality, many burglars simply kick the door open.
The weak point is usually not the lock itself. It's the door frame.
Most residential doors are secured with short screws attached to a thin wooden frame. A few hard kicks can cause the frame to split, allowing the door to swing open even if the deadbolt remains locked.
Why Burglars Use This Method
Fast and effective
Requires no special tools
Can be done in seconds
Often works on standard residential doors
How to Protect Your Door
The best defense is reinforcing the door frame, strike plate, hinges, and lock area.
Door Armor MAX Plus strengthens the entire door system, making it significantly more difficult for an intruder to force entry through kicking.
Additional protection includes:
High-quality deadbolts
Reinforced strike plates
Motion-sensor lighting
Security cameras near entry doors
2. Entering Through Unlocked Doors
Sometimes burglars don't need to force their way in at all.
Many break-ins occur simply because a door was left unlocked.
Whether it's a front door, back door, garage entry door, or side door, an unlocked entry point is an invitation for criminals looking for an easy opportunity.
Some burglars walk through neighborhoods testing door handles until they find one that opens.
Why Burglars Use This Method
No noise
No property damage
Low risk of attracting attention
Quick access to valuables
How to Protect Your Home
Make locking doors part of your daily routine.
Consider:
Smart locks with remote monitoring
Automatic locking systems
Video doorbells
Security alerts when doors remain open
Even if you live in a quiet neighborhood, always lock your doors when you're home, away, or asleep.
3. Breaking Through Sliding Glass Doors
Sliding glass doors are one of the most vulnerable entry points in many homes.
Many homeowners focus heavily on securing their front door while overlooking patio doors and backyard entrances.
Unfortunately, burglars know this.
Sliding glass doors often have weak locking systems and can sometimes be lifted off their tracks. If that doesn't work, intruders may simply break the glass.
Why Burglars Target Sliding Glass Doors
Located away from street view
Often hidden by fences or landscaping
Weak factory-installed locks
Large glass surfaces
How to Protect Sliding Glass Doors
Several security upgrades can help:
Install a security bar in the track
Add glass-break sensors
Apply security window film
Install outdoor lighting
For maximum protection, Door Armor's Armor Latch Sliding Door Deadbolt prevents the door from being opened from the outside and helps secure one of the most vulnerable points of entry in your home.
4. Climbing Through Windows
Windows are another common target for burglars.
Ground-floor windows, basement windows, and windows hidden behind shrubs are particularly attractive because they often provide easy access without drawing attention.
Some intruders simply open an unlocked window. Others break the glass and climb through.
Why Burglars Use Windows
Less visible than front doors
Easy access when left unlocked
Can provide direct entry into bedrooms or living areas
Often overlooked by homeowners
How to Protect Your Windows
Simple security measures can make a big difference:
Keep windows locked
Trim bushes and landscaping around windows
Install window sensors
Use security cameras
Apply security window film
Door Armor Clear Security Window Film helps hold shattered glass together, making it harder for intruders to create an opening large enough to enter.
The extra time and effort required can often be enough to discourage a burglar and send them looking elsewhere.
5. Using the Garage as an Entry Point
Many homeowners focus on securing their front door but forget about the garage.
Burglars often see garages as easy targets because they may contain expensive tools, equipment, bicycles, and vehicles.
Even worse, an attached garage can provide direct access into the home.
Common Garage Security Weaknesses
Unlocked service doors
Weak side-entry doors
Visible valuables
Forgotten garage door openers in parked vehicles
How to Protect Your Garage
Always lock garage access doors
Reinforce garage entry doors
Install motion-sensor lighting
Use smart garage door systems
Remove valuables from plain sight
Treat your garage entry door with the same level of security as your front door.
A reinforced garage entry door can prevent a burglar from moving from the garage into your living space.
Why Burglars Choose Easy Targets
Most burglars are not looking for a challenge.
They want the fastest, easiest, and lowest-risk way to get inside.
They often avoid homes that show visible signs of security, including:
Reinforced doors
Security cameras
Motion lighting
Alarm systems
Security signage
The harder you make it for an intruder to enter, the more likely they are to move on to another target.
Build Layers of Protection
No single security product can stop every threat.
The strongest home security strategy uses multiple layers of protection working together.
Consider combining:
✔ Reinforced entry doors with Door Armor
✔ Armor Latch Sliding Door Deadbolt
✔ Door Armor Window Security Film
✔ Security cameras
✔ Motion-sensor lighting
✔ Smart locks
✔ Alarm systems
Each layer adds time, effort, and risk for a potential intruder.
Conclusion
Understanding how burglars break into homes is the first step toward protecting your family.
The five most common methods include:
Kicking in doors
Entering through unlocked doors
Breaking through sliding glass doors
Climbing through windows
Using garages as entry points
The good news is that every one of these vulnerabilities can be addressed with the right security measures.
By reinforcing your doors, protecting your windows, securing sliding glass doors, and creating multiple layers of defense, you can dramatically reduce your risk of becoming a victim of burglary.
At Door Armor, we believe home security starts at the door. Our door reinforcement kits, sliding door security products, and window security solutions are designed to help homeowners protect what matters most.
Because peace of mind begins with a stronger home.