What's Your Setup for a Common Entry Front Door?

[Fabian Peraza]

I've had two recent issues with break-ins and attempted break-ins within the last month at my triplex. My initial setup was a deadbolt and handle setup. In the break-in, the deadbolt was left unlocked and a student-tenant's acquaintances broke in assaulted the tenant in the common area. Besides that aspect, I wanted to enhance the front door security by removing a handleset and replacing it with an entry knob that has the capability to auto-lock. In a higher traffic multi-fam renting partially to students, having two "checks" to ensure the front door has a better chance of remaining locked after use. Today I learned the entry knob that was installed last week was forced in and the knob came off when the tenant tried to enter into the house and had to be let in by another tenant. Although I haven't seen the knob yet, tenants believe it was an attempted forced entry.

This could be a case of a tenant being harassed by someone he/she knows and the solution could be to work with or remove tenant if viable data comes to light. But as of right now, I'm at the "fooled me twice" stage and looking for ideas on security solutions or ideas for multi-family property to protect the tenants and property better. This property is a couple blocks from a major university (Temple) in Philadelphia in what would be a "B" block in a "C" area (new construction and mostly students living in the block).

NOTE: 1 Common entry front door and three additional unit doors inside.