Video Doorbells & Smart Locks: Are They Enough to Keep Your Home Secure in 2025?

1. DO VIDEO DOORBELLS AND SMART LOCKS OFFER ENOUGH PROTECTION FOR YOUR HOME So, you’ve spent a decent amount of money and time installing a nice new video doorbell and smart lock for your front door. The question is, is that enough to keep your home safe and secure, or is there more you can do? We are all very aware in the UK of how important it is to keep our homes protected. The evidence for this is abundant, as you only have to walk down your average street in a town or city to see video doorbells everywhere. Alongside video doorbells, you'll find plenty of smart locks festooning entryways with their futuristic touchpads. It's tempting to think technology can solve all our problems, including crime, but the reality is a little bit more nuanced than that. Yes, home security can definitely benefit from these new technologies, but they only form part of a successful line of defence against would-be criminals. In this article we're going to explore a whole array of security measures you should consider for your home and evaluate which are the most effective and suitable for your particular household. Why Home Security Is More Important Than Ever Let’s begin by taking a look at what smart home technology is actually capable of and what the reality of modern break-ins looks like. First things first, according to insurance companies here in 2025 in the UK, roughly 3/4 of all home burglaries involve a criminal gaining entry via a door. Why

2. is this? Despite door cams and smart locks, some brute force applied at just the right time to a vulnerable door is often still the path of least resistance for a criminal. Forcing entry through a window causes unwanted noise, creates a potential hazard in the form of broken glass, and is much more visible than forcing a door open. Even moderately experienced criminals know what to look out for when evaluating a home for a potential break-in. What is it they are looking for? These are the main things they are trying to spot: • Flimsy door frames • Non-reinforced doors • Exposed hinges • Single glazed window panels • Secluded entryways • No evidence of deadbolts • Poor lighting Smart locks and cameras, including door cams, are a deterrent, but they shouldn't be considered as the main deterrent. If you really want to beef up your home security, the very best thing you can do is to fit a dedicated security door and then, if you feel the need, pack a high-quality door up with technological solutions such as doorbell cameras and smart locks. The benefits of installing Smart Locks Smart locks are a lifestyle upgrade, if you will. Keyless entry systems are incredibly quick and easy to use for homeowners who don't want the hassle of multiple family members carrying around keys wherever they go. With advanced features on smartphones such as real-time monitoring, the latest smart locks can genuinely provide peace of mind. They're also really handy when it comes to deliveries. You can open and close the door remotely or issue one-time-use passcodes to couriers and delivery people without the need to stay at home and receive a package in person. This level of flexibility extends even further with the ability to grant temporary access codes for house guests, contractors, or cleaners. No more hiding spare keys under the doormat! And for Airbnb hosts, a smart lock is practically essential. The potential drawbacks of Smart Locks Smart locks aren’t without their drawbacks. Chief among them arguably is the potential vulnerabilities they have when it comes to cyber security. You are no doubt aware of stories of criminals gaining access to keyless cars by stealing access codes. Smart locks for homes often use very similar technologies to those seen in our vehicles today. And whilst it is rare for a criminal to have the required expertise to hack into a smart lock, it is nonetheless a possibility.

3. The next factor to bear in mind with smart locks is the fact that they require power of course. If you don't have battery backup or some other form of secondary power for your home, your smart lock may be rendered useless until you do have power again. Lastly, sophisticated electronic locking mechanisms on their own don't do anything to make your door harder to break into. A weak door is still a weak door no matter how sophisticated its lock! The role of Video Doorbells Video doorbells are more popular than ever here in the UK and there are a number of compelling reasons why your Video doorbells are more popular than ever here in the UK, and there are a number of compelling reasons why your home could benefit from installing one. The visual deterrence factor alone can sometimes be reason enough to install one; it may just make a criminal think twice before even getting close to your home. Video doorbells are also full of helpful features such as real-time notifications. If you're out in the garden, for example, and you don't want to miss the doorbell, you can get your app to ping your phone to let you know that somebody is at the front door. You can also check to see when packages have been delivered or your dog walker has made a visit. Search features can really help on a practical level every day. And lastly, if the worst should happen and you are a victim of crime, any video evidence captured by a video doorbell can prove helpful for insurers and the police in the event of an investigation. The potential weaknesses of Video Doorbells Yes, video doorbells can certainly record criminal activity with crystal-clear resolution, but at that point the crime has already occurred. They can play witness but they can't prevent crime on their own. It must also be said that video doorbells need power; they need a Wi-Fi connection, plus adequate lighting etc to function. Without all of these a video doorbell system is virtually useless. Additionally, professional criminals have now begun to adapt to video surveillance in the UK and now routinely wear masks and hoodies to disguise themselves. The Upgrade That Has The Biggest Impact on Home Security – Dedicated Home Security Doors Let's do a quick recap on where we are. Video doorbells and smart locks can help to bolster home security, but on their own they are unlikely to stop a potential burglar in their tracks. The single most impactful change you can make to your home to increase security significantly is to install dedicated home security doors. What do we mean by the term ‘dedicated security door’? Well, what we don't mean is a standard consumer door purchased from a high street retail chain that has a sticker on it saying ‘high security’. A dedicated home security door is built from the ground up to address the common weak points in conventional doors. That means no: • Hollow-cores

4. • Softwood Frames • Reinforcements • Standard Strength (non-hidden) Hinges • Weak (or non-existent) Deadbolts A determined intruder with basic tools can break through a standard residential door in well under one minute. This isn't an argument against using the latest technologies such as smart locks and video doorbells; it is simply stating the truth that it is high-security doors and frames that can actually withstand a physical attack. Frequently Asked Questions - Smart Security vs. Security Doors 1.Are smart locks hackable? Technically yes, they are. A seasoned criminal could potentially hack into a smart lock by intercepting signals or exploiting app vulnerabilities. However, this would be no easy task and would require a lot of pre-planning, technical know-how and dedicated equipment that your average thief simply won’t have. The reality is that hacking is only a real concern for those being specifically targeted for their exceptional wealth or status. It is usually much easier to break a door down with brute force rather than compromise it using some form of high-tech method. 2.I have installed a video doorbell and live in a low crime rate area; do I really need a dedicated home security door? We argue the case for installing dedicated security doors wherever feasible to do so. Video doorbells serve as really good visual deterrents and can act as evidence-gathering tools, but they cannot prevent forced entry by themselves. As is the case with a smart lock, nothing beats a strong, robust security door that has been made specifically to stop forced entry. 3.Can you fit a smart lock to a modern high security door? Yes, is the short answer to this question. Steel and aluminium security doors actually provide the ideal platform for smart lock installation. Many manufacturers and security door specialists offer combined solutions, incorporating features like built-in power management, cable routing, and mounting systems that maintain the door's structural integrity while enabling full smart functionality. Are you searching for ultimate peace of mind? Upgrade to a high-security steel or aluminium front door today (H2) • Explore High-Security Front Doors from J.K Security Doors > Home Security Doors

5. • See Aluminium Security Doors from J.K Security Doors > Aluminium Security Doors • Book a Free Consultation with the security team at J.K Security Doors > BOOK Alternatively, you can call the team at J.K Security Doors now for expert help and advice on > 0203 302 4011 Or visit our London showroom > 22b Lower Road, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 5LH Source:https://www.jkdoors.co.uk/blog/do-video-doorbells-and-smart-locks-offer-enough- protection-your-home/