ABC News 10 New York - Deceiving Viewers

ABC News 10 New York back in early November started airing some odd interviews with a former burglar, in a rather odd attempt to get advice to consumers about how to secure your homes.

While some of the advice is on par, it is troubling and obvious that this "expert" does not know the law or life safety codes regarding double cylinder locks and why they should not be used.

He goes on to suggest other ideas as well that are a little ambiguous also. He suggests that alarms are the difference between security and not. Nothing is further from the truth. Alarms cannot and can never provide any form of physical security protection.

Virtually all burglars know that if they set off an alarm to an unoccupied property, sure the authorities will turn up eventually, but the burglar just hides out of sight from the authorities. Usually the authorities will deem the alarm a false alarm, write the owner a bill for their attendance and leave the premise. The burglar comes back a second time and may indeed set the alarm off again, but is secure in the knowledge that the authorities are not going to return quickly to that property because they think it is false alarming. The burglar then does their damage and the homeowner suffers the loss. Often insurance companies will likely reject a claim because the authorities have written a false alarm ticket.

This "expert" suggests to use a "charliebar" in a sliding door. This is a suggestion however all burglars know how to easily and quickly bypass a charliebar. The suggestion of a broom handle or 4x2 in the track is often better, but the best suggestion is to put a self tapping screw in the top of the track to prevent the door from being lifted.

The only suggestion of merit in the article (see source below) is using 3" screws or better strike plates, but this is the primary reason the Strikemaster II Pro is such a formidable foe to burglars.

When it comes to windows, this "expert" suggested double cylinder locks. Double cylinder locks are illegal in almost every jurisdiction in the USA, if used on primary entry doors. The best suggestion is to use products like ShatterGard window security film, that actually prevent a window from being broken.

Shame on you ABC 10 New York for misleading consumers with advice from a burglar instead of a professional locksmith security expert.

(source...)