How to Make Your Home Look Occupied When You’re Away

There’s a moment most homeowners dread: you come home to find a door forced open, a window smashed, or your house turned upside down. It doesn’t have to happen to you for the possibility to sit at the back of your mind. And for a growing number of Australians, that worry is well-founded.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, an estimated 8.5% of Australian households experienced one or more property crimes in the 2024–25 financial year. That’s nearly one in twelve homes. And while no single product can make your home completely crime-proof, a quality security door is one of the most effective steps you can take, because burglars, above all else, look for easy targets.

This guide will walk you through what to look for, what to avoid, and how to make a smart decision for your home and budget.

Why Security Doors Actually Work

Before we get into the details, it helps to understand why security doors are worth the investment in the first place.

Most break-ins are opportunistic. The person breaking in isn’t a professional planning a heist, they’re looking for the path of least resistance. Data from Crime Stoppers Victoria shows that up to 80% of home burglary incidents involve offenders entering through unlocked doors or windows, or abandoning the attempt altogether once they discover the home is properly secured. In fact, 14.1% of all home burglaries in the dataset were failed attempts; the offender tried, found resistance, and gave up.

A solid security door adds time, noise, and difficulty to a break-in attempt. That combination alone is often enough to make a would-be intruder move on.

Step 1: Understand the Australian Standards

This is the single most important thing to know when shopping for a security door: not all security doors are created equal, and some products sold as “security” doors offer very little real protection.

In Australia, genuine security screen doors and grilles must meet Australian Standard AS 5039, which sets the minimum requirements for how these products are designed, manufactured, and tested. Products are also assessed under AS 5040 (installation) and AS 5041 (methods of testing).

To earn compliance, a security door must pass six independent tests:

• Knife shear test; can the mesh be cut through?
• Jemmy test; can it be pried open?
• Probe test; can a hand or tool be forced through a gap?
• Pull test; can the door be pulled away from its frame?
• Impact test; can it withstand being kicked or shoulder-charged?
• Corrosion test; will it hold up in coastal or humid conditions?

The updated 2023–24 standards also introduced two performance ratings: SL100 (the door must withstand five impacts of 100 joules each) and SL200 (five impacts of 200 joules each, for higher-risk situations).

Practical tip: Every compliant security door must carry a compliance label. If a door doesn’t have one, it is not a true security door, regardless of what the salesperson says.

Step 2: Choose the Right Material

Security doors come in two main materials, each with genuine advantages.

Stainless Steel Mesh

Marine-grade 316 stainless steel mesh is widely regarded as the gold standard for security screens. It’s extremely difficult to cut, resists corrosion, and provides good airflow and visibility. If you live within a few kilometres of the coast, as many Perth homeowners do, marine-grade stainless steel is the right call, as standard steel can rust in salty air.

Aluminium Grille

Aluminum doors with diamond or bar grille patterns are highly durable and often more affordable than stainless steel mesh. They’re a solid option for inland areas or when you want a more traditional look. The trade-off is slightly less airflow and visibility compared to fine mesh.

Avoid any door sold as “aluminum security” that uses thin, lightweight profiles. These can look the part but fail AS 5039 tests. When in doubt, ask for the compliance certificate.

Step 3: Think About Your Entry Points

Don’t just think about your front door. Burglars don’t have a preference; they’ll try any entry point that looks manageable.

Consider security doors and screens for:

• Front door — high visibility, but also the most-used entry point
• Back door — often less visible from the street, making it a common target
• Sliding doors — these are a weak point in many Australian homes; look for purpose-built security sliding doors rather than trying to adapt a swing door
• Windows — especially those on ground level or near downpipes and fences

A whole-of-home approach doesn’t have to happen all at once. Many homeowners start with the front and back doors, and then add window screens over time.

Step 4: Look at the Lock Quality

Even the strongest door frame is only as good as its locking mechanism. When assessing a security door, look for:

• Three-point locking systems; these engage at the top, middle, and bottom of the door frame, making forced entry significantly harder
• Deadbolts; far more resistant to being jimmied than spring latches
• Anti-pick, anti-drill cylinders; these are harder for burglars with tools to defeat
• No external hinges; if the hinge pins are accessible from outside, a door can be lifted off its frame even when locked

If a security door is fitted with a basic single-point lock, it undermines the rest of the door’s strength. Ask your supplier specifically about the lock grade.

Step 5: Don’t Skip the Installation

A well-made security door installed poorly is not a security door. AS 5040, the Australian Standard for installation exists precisely because how a door is fitted matters as much as what it’s made of.

Poor installation can create gaps between the door and frame, weaken the fixing points, or leave the door sitting incorrectly in the opening. The National Security Screen Association (NSSA) strongly recommends using a licensed installer rather than attempting a DIY fit.

When getting quotes, ask whether the installer is a member of the NSSA or follows AS 5040. It’s a reasonable question and any reputable supplier will be happy to answer it.

Step 6: Balance Security with Everyday Comfort

A security door you find frustrating to use every day is a security door you’ll start leaving open, which defeats the purpose entirely. Think about:

• Visibility; can you clearly see who’s at the door before opening it?
• Airflow; fine mesh allows good cross-ventilation, which matters in Australian summers
• Child and pet safety; some mesh products are rated to resist pet scratching or prevent small children pushing through
• Aesthetics; there are now many powder coat colour options and grille designs that complement rather than clash with your home’s look

Security and live ability aren’t opposites. The best security door is one you’ll actually use properly.

A Word on Price

Quality security doors vary widely in price. A basic compliant stainless steel mesh door installed might start around $800–$1,200; premium options with high-grade locking systems and marine-grade mesh can run to $2,000 or more per door.

It’s worth putting that in context: the average loss from a residential burglary in Australia, factoring in stolen property, damage, and the cost of replacing locks and repairs, can easily run into several thousand dollars, not counting the emotional toll. A good security door is a one-time cost that pays for itself if it deters even a single break-in attempt.

The Short Version

If you take nothing else from this guide, take these four things:

1. Only buy doors that carry a compliance label proving they meet AS 5039.
2. Choose marine-grade 316 stainless steel meshes if you’re near the coast.
3. Check the lock quality, three-point locking systems is worth paying for.
4. Have the door professionally installed to AS 5040.

A security door won’t make your home a fortress. But combined with good habits, locking up properly, keeping hedges trimmed so your home is visible from the street, and being neighborly with watch programs, it’s one of the most effective physical deterrents available. Given that nearly one in nine Australian households experienced a property crime last year, it’s a decision worth making sooner rather than later.

For further guidance, the National Security Screen Association (NSSA) maintains a directory of compliant products and accredited installers across Australia.