Does what you've heard about home security actually keep a Williamsburg apartment safer?

Most of what people believe about home security is wrong. Not slightly off - wrong in ways that leave Williamsburg apartments, Bed-Stuy brownstones, and Bushwick storefronts genuinely exposed. As a working locksmith at the counter inside B & G Hardware on Roebling Street, I field these myths constantly. People walk in after a break-in and say, "But I had a deadbolt." Or, "I thought no one could pick that lock." Here is what the evidence and daily experience actually show.

Are the most popular security shortcuts - like hiding a spare key or adding more locks - actually making your home safer?

No. These are feel-good moves that experienced burglars either ignore or work around in seconds.

The spare key under the mat, in the planter by the door, on the ledge above the frame - every one of those spots gets checked first. Thieves know every variation. If you need a spare key accessible to family or a neighbor, a KeySafe Original wall-mount lockbox is a better option. It is rated for outdoor use, holds multiple keys, and is not findable by someone who just walks up to your door.

The "more locks equals more security" idea is also a trap. A door with three low-grade locks is far weaker than a door with one Medeco Maxum deadbolt set into a reinforced steel strike plate with three-inch screws anchored into the door frame stud. The frame is where most forced entries actually happen. A solid kick splits a standard builder-grade strike plate regardless of how many locks are above it.

Adding a second lock on a door that swings past a weak frame just means more hardware to look at. Target hardening - reinforcing the door, the frame, and the hinges together - is what changes the math for a burglar choosing between your door and the next one. Visible, real deterrents work. Decorative ones do not.

One more thing to stop immediately: WD-40 on locks. It feels like maintenance. It is not. WD-40 is a solvent that strips out the light grease a pin tumbler lock needs. Over time it gums up the cylinder and makes the lock sticky or inoperable. Use a dry graphite lubricant like Master Lock PTFE Lubricant or bring your lock to the counter and we will clean it properly.

Do most burglars actually pick locks or bypass security the way people think they do?

Almost never. Lock picking is slow, requires skill, and leaves traces. Bump keys are a real technique but wildly overstated - bump-resistant cylinders like those in a Schlage B60N or any Medeco product stop bump attacks entirely. The bump key myth has led a lot of people to buy expensive locks thinking that is the main threat. It is not.

The real numbers in New York are sobering. The majority of residential break-ins involve unlocked doors or windows. The next largest category is forced entry through weak frames, as described above. Lock picking and technical bypass methods account for a small fraction. Your garage door is more vulnerable to a quick bypass with a coat hanger through the top panel gap than your deadbolt is to picking. A Defender Security garage door lock and a slide bolt on the interior track fix that immediately.

The back door and the basement door are the most neglected entry points in a Greenpoint or East Williamsburg walkup. People put a quality deadbolt on the front and leave a hollow-core door with a passage knob on the back. That is not a security decision - that is an invitation. Every exterior door needs at minimum a Grade 2 deadbolt. Grade 1 is better. The back door does not get a pass because it faces the alley.

First-floor risk is real, but the solution is not paranoia. It is layering: a quality deadbolt, a window pin lock or Ideal Security window bar, and a camera with a visible presence. That combination is what makes a burglar move on to an easier target.

Does spending more on a brand-name lock or going keyless guarantee better security for a Brooklyn co-op or storefront?

Brand name alone guarantees nothing. Installation and context determine performance.

A Kwikset SmartKey lock sold at a big-box store is rekeylable and convenient. It is not a high-security lock. The same brand makes stronger options, but the product on the shelf at the lowest price point is not what you want on a Downtown Brooklyn storefront or a Bed-Stuy co-op ground floor unit. Look at ANSI Grade ratings. Grade 1 is residential and light commercial. For storefronts, rolling gate locks, and commercial doors, talk to someone who does commercial locksmith work daily and knows which cylinders hold up to repeat use and attempted attack.

Keyless and smart locks generate a lot of anxiety. The fear is that they are easier to hack than a physical key. In practice, a well-chosen smart lock - like the Schlage Encode Plus or the Yale Assure Lock 2 - is not easier to defeat electronically than a quality deadbolt is to defeat physically. The risk profile is different, not worse. For landlords and supers managing multiple units in Williamsburg, smart locks and master key systems can reduce the chaos of lost keys and emergency lockouts. A double cylinder deadbolt requiring a key on both sides can feel safer but creates a real exit hazard in a fire - think carefully before installing one in a residential unit.

Renters often believe they cannot change locks without landlord permission. In New York City, that is not accurate. You have the right to change your locks. You must provide your landlord or super with a copy of the new key afterward. You do not need to ask first. If your building has a super managing a master key system, ask how your unit fits into that system before you change hardware, because some cylinders need to be matched.

If you are unsure about any of this - what lock to install, whether your door frame is actually solid, how to add a camera without running new wiring - call B & G Locksmith at (347) 699-9268 or walk into the store at 210 Roebling Street in Williamsburg. The locksmith counter is inside the hardware store. You can pick up a deadbolt, get keys cut, and ask a real question to a person who works on these doors every day.

Frequently asked questions

Can a renter change the locks on their Brooklyn apartment without the landlord's permission?

In New York City, renters have the right to change their locks, but they are legally required to provide the landlord or super with a copy of the new key. You do not need permission first, but you do need to share the key afterward. A locksmith can rekey your existing lock or install a new one and cut a copy for your landlord on the spot.

Is a deadbolt enough to secure a Williamsburg apartment door?

A deadbolt is a strong start, but it is not enough on its own. Most break-ins in NYC happen through unlocked doors or weak door frames, not picked locks. A Grade 1 deadbolt like the Schlage B60N paired with a reinforced strike plate and a solid door frame stops far more attempted entries than the lock alone.

Do fake security cameras actually deter break-ins?

Fake cameras offer very little real protection. An experienced burglar can identify dummy cameras quickly, and they provide no footage if something does happen. Real cameras like the Hikvision DS-2CD2143G2-I or an Axis compact dome are not dramatically pricier to install than fake setups, and they actually work. For storefronts and brownstones in Brooklyn, real cameras are worth it.