Reinforcing Door Locks/Latches
The foundation of strong home security and safety for your family is a solid door and a good
door lock system.
Doors that are secured with rim locks or cylinder latches are fairly easily forced open (a heavy blow drives the
latch against the staple--a device that is simply held in place by a couple of screws--and this shears it away
from the inside face of the frame, allowing intruders to gain entry. Reinforcing these kinds of door locks adds security
to your entryways.
If you have this type of lock, consider installing a London bar. These long steel bars are shaped to fit tightly over
the staple and are installed with screws all the way down the inside face of the frame.
Another way to strengthen doors and frames around locks is with devices called "partnered reinforcements."
They
consist of two metal strips, which are joined together by bolts that pass through the door or frame. An example is a mortise lock,
which can be protected with a pair of strips bolted through the frame on either side of the keep plate; a further pair attached to the door sandwiches the lock.
These are simple ways to reinforce door locks and latches that don't cost a lot
of money nor do they require a lot of time
to install.
Source: Reader's Digest Home Safety and Security DIY Manual