Make your own door jammer. Welcome to Shebang, your free information site.
Door Jammer
As crime increases, it is important to have anti-crime devices in place. A door is the most prominent access point for burglars to enter a home. An elderly lady went to stay with her daughter for Christmas, when she returned home she found that a side door and a rear door, both out of view of the public, had been jarred in an attempt to enter the home. The door security devices held, and the doors could not be opened, she had jammed a wooden 2x4 between the floor and door knob before she left home. This article explains how to build and use this simple, yet robust device, which prevents the opening of a door.
This device can be made to work with just about any door, and should be used on all doors hidden from street view.
Tips to Keep You and Your Home Safe from Burglars
If you are going to be away from your home, stop telling other people that don’t need to know. Instruct your children not to tell their friends, friends tell friends. The guy at the service station, the person at the checkout, a barber, they don’t need to know. A empty house is a burglars dream.
Burglars typically first case a home before returning, they will look it over noting the entry and escape routes. They find out how many people reside in the home, note their life patterns, who goes, who comes and what’s consistent. They always keep their eye open for little dogs. The little dog is your best deterrent, because they never stop barking, and barking dogs get the neighbours attention.
A burglar usually will knock loudly or ring a door bell to see if anyone is home. When you answer the door they will pretend to solicit ate something, or ask if a certain person lives here, or ask for directions, or apologize for knocking at the wrong house. If you do not hear them at the door, they may think no one is home and break in, with you in the house.
The burglar is mainly after small expensive items or cash. A quick trip to the master bedroom can lead to jewellery, cash and small expensive electronic devices. The shorter the time spent in the home, the less chance to get caught. The burglar feels there is less chance to get caught, by entering from the back of the home, out of view from neighbours and people passing by. 30 seconds is all that is needed to enter a home. French doors and sliding doors are a quick access point.
If you are going away for some time, have a friend or neighbour pick up your newspapers and mail daily. Nothing is worse than a pile of newspaper at the front door, which shows that no one is home. Have a neighbour throw a bag of his garbage into your garbage can, and push it out to the curb, and return it on garbage collection day. This shows that someone is home.
Do not leave that big cardboard box that the new flat screen TV came in, or anything else new, outside where everyone can see it. This is inviting a burglar. Rip it into smaller pieces and place in a black plastic bag, you can later take it to a cardboard recycle depot.
If there is a special occasion like a wedding or funeral mentioned in the newspaper that you will be attending, have a friend keep an eye on your house while you are away. Burglars read the newspapers too.
In the winter and you are away, arrange for a neighbour to clean your sidewalk, virgin snow with no tracks is a give away. Have a neighbour open and close the front window curtains to indicate someone is home.
If you have an alarm system use it, so many do not take the time to make use of it.
Making a Door Jammer
Shaping the top of the 2x4
All that is required to build this simple door jammer, yet effect anti-crime device is a piece of 2x4 lumber. The length of the lumber is very important, too short and it is ineffective, too long and it will slip, and not hold. The lumber needs to be just long enough, that when you kick the bottom in, it jams and stays. The length of the lumber that is needed, depends on the height of the door knob. When you build this device start a little on the long side and keep cutting a little off, and trying it, until it works perfectly. The average length is 38 inches.
Notch an oval groove on the top of the 2x4 to fit the door knob (see picture). This keeps the lumber from kicking out sideways when anyone tries to bust in. You can paint it if you like.
To test for the correct length, put the device in place and slightly kick in the bottom for a tight fit. To remove, a slight jar should be required, if a slight jar is not required to, the device is too long. A loose jammer can be knocked out of place on a forced entry, or it may simply just slide on the floor.
