Are deadbolts really as secure as people think for a Brooklyn brownstone?

A deadbolt is not automatically enough. That is the honest answer. Williamsburg brownstones, Bed-Stuy prewar walk-ups, Bushwick lofts - they all have one thing in common: residents assume the lock on the door is doing more work than it actually is. Some of those assumptions come from marketing. Some come from habit. A few are just folklore that has been repeated so many times it sounds like fact. Here is what is actually true, from someone who installs and services locks in Brooklyn every day.

Does the brand name on your lock actually mean it is secure?

Brand recognition is not the same as security. Plenty of Williamsburg apartments have a Kwikset deadbolt on the door and a tenant who feels completely protected. Kwikset makes decent entry-level hardware. But a standard Kwikset SmartKey deadbolt has a ANSI Grade 2 or Grade 3 rating in many of its product lines. That is adequate for interior doors. For a street-level brownstone front door in Bed-Stuy or a ground-floor East Williamsburg apartment, you want ANSI Grade 1 at minimum.

Schlage B60N and Schlage B62N deadbolts are Grade 1, widely available, and reasonably priced. If you want serious forced-entry resistance, Medeco Maxum and Mul-T-Lock MT5+ are the names that come up professionally. Those run higher - typically in the $150 to $400 range for the hardware alone - but they offer pick resistance, drill resistance, and key control that a box-store lock simply does not.

The other half of this: an expensive lock on a weak door frame is still a weak door. Most real-world break-ins are not lock picks. They are forced entries - a kick near the deadbolt that splits the jamb, or a shoulder into a door with a short strike plate. A Medeco on a door with a two-screw strike plate is not as secure as a mid-grade Schlage on a door with a reinforced six-screw heavy-gauge strike plate and door frame armor. The lock and the door are a system. Both matter.

Do renters in Brooklyn have to live with whatever lock is already on the door?

No, and this is one of the most persistent myths we hear at the counter. Renters in New York City can change their own locks without landlord permission. The requirement is that you provide your landlord a copy of the new key. That is it. You are not locked into whatever hardware was there when you moved in, and you do not need to wait for a super to get around to it.

This matters because a lot of rental units in Greenpoint and Downtown Brooklyn have locks that have been rekeyed or copied so many times that key control is essentially zero. A previous tenant, a former super, an ex-roommate - any of them could still have a working key. A rekey with a Schlage B60N or an upgrade to a Medeco M3 with restricted keyways solves that problem completely. Key control means no unauthorized copies can be made without your knowledge.

One note on double cylinder deadbolts: they require a key on both sides, inside and out. Some tenants install them thinking more security means more locks, more protection. But a double cylinder on an exit door is a fire hazard. The NYC Fire Code is clear on this. If you have one, talk to us before assuming it is the right call for your unit.

And please - stop hiding a spare key under the mat or in the planter by the door. Every burglar checks there. It is not a safe backup plan. A better option is a Kidde key lockbox or a spare key left with a trusted neighbor.

Are smart locks and visible deterrents enough to protect a storefront or apartment in Williamsburg?

Visible deterrents have real value. A well-lit entry, a quality lock cylinder visible from the street, and proper door hardware do signal that a property is harder to hit. Criminals generally operate on a window of opportunity - a dark hallway, a door that looks flimsy, a lock that can be slipped with a card. Removing that easy opportunity matters.

But an alarm company sticker with no actual alarm, or a dog bowl by the door with no dog, does almost nothing. Those tactics were marginal twenty years ago and anyone paying attention knows them by now. Actual target hardening means reinforced door frames, quality Grade 1 hardware, proper lighting, and secured secondary entry points.

Back doors and gate locks get neglected constantly. In Williamsburg brownstones with rear yard access, the back door often has a builder-grade knob lock and nothing else. That is a significant vulnerability. Mailbox locks are similar - a flimsy wafer lock on a lobby mailbox in a Bed-Stuy building is trivial to bypass. A proper cam lock or Medeco cylinder on a mailbox takes that off the table.

On smart locks: the fear that a Yale Assure Lock 2 or a Schlage Encode will be digitally hacked is mostly theoretical for residential use. The real risk is the same as with any lock - a weak door, a bypassed frame, or a garage door that can be triggered with a universal remote. Smart locks with auto-lock features and access logs are genuinely useful for landlords and Airbnb hosts managing multiple units. They are not a liability if you buy from a reputable brand and update the firmware.

If you are not sure what you actually have on your door - or you want someone to look at your setup honestly and tell you what is worth upgrading - stop by the counter at B & G Locksmith, 210 Roebling St in Williamsburg, or call us at (347) 699-9268. We stock locks off the shelf, cut keys while you wait, and give straight answers without upselling you on hardware you do not need.

Frequently asked questions

Can my landlord legally stop me from changing the locks in my Brooklyn apartment?

No. In New York City, tenants have the right to change their own locks. You do need to give your landlord a copy of the new key, but you do not need their permission first. If you have questions about your specific lease, check NYC Housing Court guidance or ask us when you come in.

Are smart locks easier to hack than traditional deadbolts?

In practice, no. Most smart lock break-ins happen the same way traditional ones do - forced entry, not digital hacking. A Schlage Encode or Yale Assure Lock 2 on a properly reinforced door is harder to defeat than a cheap keyed deadbolt on a weak frame. The weak point is almost always the door or frame, not the lock.

Where can I get locks changed or keys cut in Williamsburg without an appointment?

Walk into B & G Locksmith at 210 Roebling St in Williamsburg. We are the locksmith counter inside B & G Hardware. No appointment needed. We cut keys while you wait and stock locks from Schlage, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and more off the shelf.