Are High-Security Locks Worth Considering?
What you actually get from Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and ASSA — and when a regular Schlage is enough.
Are high-security locks worth considering?
For most Chapel Hill, NC homes, a properly installed Grade 1 deadbolt from Schlage or Kwikset SmartKey is usually plenty. Burglars overwhelmingly choose unlocked doors and ground-floor windows over picking or bumping a lock.
Where high-security locks (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, ASSA) genuinely earn their place:
• Restricted keyways — duplicates require your authorization, so a contractor or ex can't just walk into a hardware store and copy your key.
• Drill, pick, and bump resistance — the cylinder is built to defeat the common attacks.
• Hardened steel inserts — the bolt and strike survive serious kick-in attempts.
If you have valuables, run a home office, or live somewhere with a real burglary history, high-security locks can make sense. Otherwise, a reinforced strike plate and a quality Grade 1 lock is a reasonable starting point.