Summer is the busiest season for burglars in Philadelphia — and most homeowners don’t know it. National crime data consistently shows residential burglaries climb 10–15% between June and August compared to the rest of the year. The reasons are predictable once you think about them: open windows, neighbors who assume someone else is watching, longer daylight hours that mask foot traffic, and college students moving out and leaving properties temporarily vacant.

I’ve rekeyed doors after break-ins across every Philadelphia neighborhood. Here’s what actually makes a difference — not generic advice, but the specific things a locksmith looks at when assessing a home before a client leaves for the summer.

Why Summer Is Peak Burglary Season in Philadelphia

Four factors stack up against Philadelphia homeowners every summer:

  • Open windows and unlocked doors. Heat makes people leave ground-floor windows cracked overnight and back doors propped open. These aren’t just security risks — they’re invitations.
  • Vacant rental units. Student leases end in May and June across West Philly, University City, and Fishtown. Buildings that were occupied all year sit empty for weeks. That changes the eyes-on-the-street dynamic for the whole block.
  • Extended vacations. Summer travel means homes sitting dark for a week or more — long enough for anyone paying attention to notice the pattern.
  • Foot traffic cover. More people are out on the street in summer, which makes it harder for neighbors to notice who belongs and who doesn’t.
The number Philadelphia homeowners need to know:

Most residential burglaries — estimates run 60–70% — involve no forced entry at all. Unlocked doors, unlocked windows, or a key that was never recovered. The rest involve the strike plate, not the lock. Lock picking is essentially nonexistent in real-world residential burglaries.

The 7-Step Checklist

Go through all seven before any trip that takes you away for more than two days:

1

Rekey Before You Leave — If Anything Has Changed

Most break-ins use a key, not force. If you moved into your home in the last year, had a roommate leave, had a landlord or contractor with key access, or lost a key at any point — rekey before summer. The previous tenant’s copy is still out there. The contractor’s copy is still out there. You have no idea who made duplicates.

Rekeying costs $30–60 per cylinder and takes about 20 minutes per lock on-site. It changes the internal pin configuration so existing keys no longer work — same hardware, new key. See our full breakdown: Rekey vs. Replace Your Locks — What’s the Difference?

2

Check Every Exterior Deadbolt — Including the Strike Plate

Test that every exterior deadbolt fully extends — throw the bolt and make sure the door can’t be pushed open. Then get down and look at the strike plate. Does it have 3-inch screws going into the stud, or the cheap 1/2-inch screws that only catch the door jamb?

A deadbolt with short strike plate screws can be kicked in with a single hit — the jamb splits even though the lock itself is fine. We replace short screws and add reinforced strike plates on-site. It’s a 15-minute fix that makes a real difference.

3

Secure Sliding Doors and Windows

Sliding glass doors are a known vulnerability, especially on Philadelphia row homes with rear yard access. The latch that comes standard on most sliding doors is minimal — it can often be lifted out of the track entirely. Fix: cut a wooden dowel to length and lay it in the track. The door physically cannot be opened even if the latch fails. Takes five minutes and costs under $5.

For double-hung windows, install sash locks or window security pins. Cracked windows for ventilation are still lockable — security pins hold the window slightly open but prevent it from being raised further. We carry them and install them at your location.

4

Don’t Leave Keys With Anyone You Don’t Fully Trust — And Never Use a Hide Spot

Burglars check fake rocks and door mats. If you need someone to access your home while you’re away, give them a physical key copy — not a hide-a-key. If you want temporary access without making copies, consider a Schlage or Kwikset keypad deadbolt. You set a temporary code before you leave, and delete it when you’re back. No key distribution, no worry about who has what.

Keypad deadbolts start around $60–80 in hardware. We install them on-site across Philadelphia. Contact us to schedule before your trip.

5

Install a Door Reinforcement Kit

Most residential doors fail at the frame, not the deadbolt. When someone kicks a door in, the bolt stays in place — but the strike plate tears through the jamb. A door reinforcement kit (Armor Concepts Door Armor is the standard) wraps around the door frame and distributes kick force across a much larger area of the stud.

Cost is around $60–80 in hardware. We install them in about 30 minutes, on-site. If you’ve been meaning to do this, before a summer trip is the right time. Also see our tips on the top 5 ways to protect your Philadelphia home.

6

Outdoor Lighting + Timer-Controlled Lights Inside

Motion-activated lights on every entry point — front door, back door, basement entry, garage if applicable. They startle anyone approaching and signal activity without running constantly. For interior lights: set two or three lamps on timer plugs so the house doesn’t sit dark for two weeks. A living room lamp that turns on at 7pm and off at 11pm is a cheap, effective deterrent.

Don’t rely only on smart home automations. Timers work when your wifi is down, when your router crashes, when the app has an outage. Get $8 mechanical timer plugs from any hardware store as a backup. They always work.

7

Don’t Announce Your Vacation on Social Media Until You’re Back

This sounds obvious. People still do it constantly. A Facebook post from the Jersey Shore with your Philadelphia neighborhood tagged is a direct signal that your rowhouse is sitting empty. “Day 1 of vacation!” posts, airport selfies, beach check-ins — all of it broadcasts vacancy to anyone paying attention.

Post the vacation photos when you’re home. The likes will still be there. Your deadbolt is doing its job — don’t undo it with a social media post.

Want Us to Check Your Home Before You Leave?

On-site security audit — we come to you anywhere in Philadelphia. Call before your trip.
Call (215) 554-6109

Quick Pre-Departure Checklist

Run through this the day before you leave:

  • Rekeyed locks if any key was ever lost, copied, or given to someone no longer in the house
  • Tested every exterior deadbolt — bolt fully extends, door can’t be pushed open
  • Verified strike plates have 3-inch screws (not the 1/2-inch originals)
  • Secured sliding doors with a track bar or dowel
  • Locked all ground-floor and basement windows — no cracked-open windows unattended
  • Set interior lamps on timer plugs — realistic on/off pattern, not 24/7
  • Confirmed motion-activated lights are working at all entry points
  • Gave a trusted neighbor your travel dates and a contact number
  • Stopped mail delivery or arranged for a neighbor to collect it daily
  • No social media vacation announcements until you’re home
Philadelphia rowhouse-specific vulnerabilities to check:
  • Rear alley access — back gates with worn latches are a common weak point in South Philly and Kensington
  • Basement hatch doors — often overlooked, frequently underprotected
  • Side passageway gates if your property has one
  • Mail slots on older front doors — in some configurations, a long tool can reach interior hardware

What Does Pre-Summer Security Actually Cost?

Most Philadelphia homeowners can get everything done for under $200. Here’s a realistic breakdown:

  • Rekeying: $30–60 per cylinder. A typical rowhouse with front deadbolt, back door deadbolt, and a knob lock runs $90–150 total.
  • Strike plate upgrade (3-inch screws + reinforced plate): $25–40 per door in hardware. We bring everything on-site.
  • Door reinforcement kit (installed): $60–80 including hardware.
  • Window security pins: $5–10 per window. We install them on-site.
  • Keypad deadbolt (installed): $110–175 including hardware.

For most homes, rekeying plus a strike plate upgrade on the front and back doors is all that’s needed — total around $150–175. We come to you, do the assessment on-site, and tell you straight what’s worth doing versus what’s already fine. See our full pricing page for more detail, or contact us to schedule a pre-travel visit.