'Strikemaster II' helps reinforce home doors

 CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- "I was actually home one day when one of my neighbors had their door kicked in and I came outside and stopped him," said Paige Long who was shaken by what happened.

The startled thief got away, leaving Long worried.

"After the first break-in, I installed an alarm system," she said.

Then, just days later, a second break-in also in her quiet complex not far from uptown Charlotte.

"See the indentation. I think it only took one kick for him," she said showing NewsChannel 36 the damage. And this time, the thief got inside, taking electronics and cash.

After two break-ins, both targeting their doors, Long and her neighbors began looking for reinforcement. How do you make it harder for criminals to get in your door?

"We had a local contractor doing some renovations and he spoke to us about installing some additional hardware on our door frames," said Long.

That hardware became the answer to Long's question.

The "Strikemaster II" is a door guard produced by a company in McCleansville, N.C. Contractor Zarek Melton is seeing an increase in demand.

Melton said, "This just simply gives someone the sense of security that if someone does try to kick in the door that there is no way they are going to be able to do it."

What is it?

"It's two plates that add to the strength," he said.

Safe Homes International , which makes the device, is so sure they work, the company will pay part of your insurance deductible if the product fails.

"The good thing about these kinds of plates is that every one of these screws is going into the stud that is inside the wall. So, we're transferring all the blow force when they kick the door into the stud of the wall rather than just to that little strip of wood," Melton said.

It's a simple fix that's leaving Paige Long and her Charlotte neighbors resting a little easier.

"I don't feel like even if I forgot to set my alarm that someone is going to get in very easily," she said.

You can't predict when a criminal will strike, but Long says you can reduce your chance of becoming a victim. According to her, "We feel like we're not at risk as a community as much anymore."

Ed Anderson invented the product and says sales are through the roof. In fact, in the last week, the Strikemaster II has gone in 12 additional stores, including two in the Charlotte area. The company's website is flooded with traffic, as homeowners try to learn more about the product and in some cases, how to install it themselves.

As proof of how well it works, Anderson says he's seen an entire Karate class try to kick in a door protected by the product.  Not one of the students was able to get inside.

A spokesman for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department says, even if you don't use this product, it is important to crime proof your home.  Check out the department's suggestions at www.cmpd.org.

The Strikemaster II costs about $100 and closer to $200 installed.

Source: http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-110608-mw-strikemaster.18942c68d.html