MANUFACTURED HOUSING SECURITY

[Crystal]

I am seriously considering buying a manufactured home because the houses in my area (Los Angeles) run from $300,000. The least expensive houses are in South Los Angeles for $200,000, but I would have to dodge bullets on the way home!

I just want to know: Is it safe for a single person to be living in a manufactured house? Is a manufactured house easier to break into than an on-site house? Will skirting around a manufactured house prevent a break in? Can anyone drill into the house and break into it that way? Do you feel safe living in your manufactured house?

I am thinking about buying land on a hillside site in Los Angeles and I want to know if I have unrealistic expectations about manufactured housing.

[rmurray]

Manufactured homes would have the same security as any other thype of home...A determined crook can get in this or any home...

There are features that can slow down a crook...such as bolt locks on doors...windows with cross members inside the glass...OSB wrap on the exterior under the vinyl...solid steel doors...

Alarm systems are available for additional protection...there are many monitoring companies out there...

Of course...you will have insurance just in case...

AND...for the time you are home...with proper training you could try one of the systems offered by Smith and Wesson..or Lugar..

Go for it...good luck..

[Mark]

Without a doubt, the weakest entry point is the door strike. Often these are installed with short screws, just long enough to hold the striker plate on. A small child could kick these doors in.

Pull these screws, for both the doorknob and deadbolt, and replace them with 3.5" screws. These will be long enough to go well into the structural framing and not just the door frame.

[Mac]

I must say, my sliding door lock was installed with 3-1/2" screws! Good work!

[Mark]

Sliding doors are a different story, many can simply be lifted off the tracks, even if they are closed and locks.. most newer ones can only be lifted if the door is partially open, but that isn't the case on some new ones as well as most olders ones