LOCK AND LEAVE

The excitement of summer, the build up of the silly season and the holiday spirit, all culminating in packing the family bags and setting off on your summer holidays. What a great time of year, what an adventure, what about the home you’re leaving behind? 
For too many families over the summer holiday period, a wonderful family trip away, whether it’s camping or flying out of the country, can be destroyed by returning to a ransacked house and missing possessions.
Armed with your cordless drill, measuring tape and some of the best locks on the market, you can fortify your home before embarking on your summer holiday – it’s piece of mind and, of course, being forewarned is to be forearmed.

Windows
We put these at the top of the list, as this is the common access point for thieves. Whether your windows frames are wood or aluminum, sliding or double hung, they all need additional security to ensure maximum strength.
Using a push lock window bolt features an 8mm diameter bolt which will stand up to the most brutal punishment. As it is also reversible, the cylinder can be located on the left or the right of the lock body.

Remember: Burglars can gain access by prying windows open.

It is incredibly simple to install these push locks and can be done by just about anyone with some basic DIY skills. You will need a drill (cordless or electric) for pre-drilling the required holes, a screwdriver, a tape measure, a ruler (straight edge) and a sharp pencil. 

For those of you with aluminum windows, there is another product on the market that will help resist forced entry. The Sashlock is a surface-mounted press lock that holds the window sash to the window frame, so potential intruders cannot flex the window frame to get access.
All the fixing screws are concealed and the Sashlock comes with packers to ensure it will fit any window. This unit also comes in a range of colours to help you match it to your décor.

Tip: Assa Abloy can key your locks, so you have the same key for all the locks in your home.

Ranch sliders
Sliding doors are another problem area when you look at the security of your home. The traditional method of security was to slide an appropriate length of timber in the sliding door track to stop intruders from sliding the door after lifting the lock. Those days have gone and the days of the Albany Endeavour sliding door lock have arrived.
With a great look and colours to choose from, this lock offers you opposing anti-lift beaks for added security. It features a red indicator to let you know that it is deadlocked and an anti-slam pin to protect the all-important locking beaks.
Most importantly with this sliding door lock from Assa Abloy is the ability to retrofit the unit, making the switch to greater security and better design an easy choice to make – simple really.
 
Doors
There is always a champion in any range of products and we think we have found one among the deadbolt locks on offer – the Paradigm 005 deadbolt from Lockwood.
These, admittedly, are designed in Australia; however, they have the blessing of the Australian Fire Service for their safety features, including “SafetyRelease”, “LockAlertÒ” and “DualSelect”. In addition, the Paradigm 005 cylindrical deadbolt is simple to install, made from cut-resistant stainless steel and is available in a round or a square format.
With “DualSelect” locking, you can rotate the key 90°, which will lock the bolt to those trying to get in the door, however those inside the building will be able to leave by turning the knob. Turn the key a further 45° and the bolt will secure both sides of the door.
The “SafetyRelease” feature automatically unlocks the internal knob when you enter the building – this minimises the risk of being locked inside, a feature that the Fire Service like a lot.
The Paradigm 005 deadbolt incorporates the patented LockAlertÒ status indicator that will tell you what mode the lock is in at a glance.

This summer be prepared and fit you doors, windows and sliding doors with peace of mind accessories that are design-savvy, yet functional. Your local Mitre 10 stocks all of the goods mentioned here and their advice is, as always, top notch.