Cairns breakins: Video captures kids cracking home security in under 30 seconds

A video showing kid crims busting through the side door of a Cairns home in less than 30 seconds has revealed the vulnerability of security screens.

A video showing teen crims busting through a security screen at a Far North home in less than 30 seconds has revealed the vulnerability of single locking doors at the hands of experienced house breakers.

The video recorded earlier this week shows two car loads of teens targeting the side door of a Gordonvale house.

One youth, using an implement similar to a tyre lever, pops the lock on an aluminium security door and then forces open the main door in a combined total of 25 seconds.

Moments later, four armed and hooded youths are inside the property.

Teen crims last week managed to bust through the security screen of this Gordonvale home in less than 30 seconds. Picture: Jayne Crandell

Outside, two likely stolen cars wait to ferry their mates and loot on to the next target.

Cairns locksmith Malcolm Wend said a common design flaw with mesh security screens meant they could be compromised easily with a screwdriver.

He suggested installing a three-way locking sliding or hinged screen door that features a bolt to secure the door at the handle as well as the top and bottom of the door.

Triple locks are significantly more secure as opposed to a single lock for the simple reason that they lock at three points on the door jamb and can’t be levered at the top or bottom.

However, this was a pricey option at about $1700, Mr Wend said.

“The only way to get it off is with an angle grinder and they don’t do that because it makes too much noise,” he said.

“The most logical solution is to get a dead bolt fitted or a dead latch on a fire door and that will stop the crims getting in is a lot cheaper than getting (an expensive) screen door.”

A good quality dead bolt stops potential thieves exploiting a design flaw with commonly installed door locks.

The owner of Malcolm Wend Locksmithing in Mooroobool said most of his customers after being broken into chose to upgrade security and install a dead bolt and triple locking screen door.

Damaged front door entry sets that have been crunched by thieves using vice grips. Picture Emily Barker

Without a dead bolt it takes less than five seconds for house breakers armed with a pair of vice grips to force a popular spherical-shaped door knob design and gain access in what is known in the locksmith industry as crunching.

Managing director of TCL Security Simon Hubbard has previously described these locks as “glorified Coke cans”.

According to Queensland Police Service data reported unlawful entry offences during the past two years shows no discernible pattern but an astounding 7253 offences were logged.

A total of 3436 break-ins recorded in the past year was a decrease on the preceding 12 month period that added up to a total 3817 unlawful entry offences.

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Originally published as Cairns breakins: Video captures kids cracking home security in under 30 seconds