In the modern world, more and more people own expensive consumer products, jewellery, and cash. With so many items of different value, many people tend not to bother putting low and medium-value things in safes or even safe places. In fact, it has become common practice in many households to feel that the place and items are secure as long as they are in the house or office behind a locked door. Putting so much faith in these door locks may be foolhardy, but provided that the door lock mechanism is top quality, unwelcome intruders are most likely to be kept away. Of course, it would be foolish to put all of one's faith and trust in locked doors, especially if particularly precious items are involved. However, having security measures which are designed to deter thieves, and therefore out in the open for them to see, can attract more attention than normal that the occupants have something to hide (worth stealing).
Most thefts from houses or cars are committed by opportunistic thieves, who are looking for opportunities, but not out for a specific target.

Door locks, come in all shapes and sizes. Some are designed and manufactured for ease of use, others for longevity, and others still to be available at the lowest price. Of course, the most important aspect of any door lock assembly is for it to be secure. There are various ways to construct door hardware and the most popular in modern buildings are some kind of safety door locks which enable anyone trapped to easily get out, while also providing protection against attempts to pick or force the lock from outside.

Different brand names spring to mind, but some of the best quality products are produced by manufacturers many people have never heard of. Fortunately for these companies, there is very little fashion in this sector. Those people actually responsible for choosing and purchasing door locks will have their own factors to consider. These could be cost, practicality, style, and one would hope security and build quality. Traditionally, a key is used to unlock, and sometimes lock, doors, but there are also combination locks and even electronic key-code security locks which use a radio or magnetic wave to command the lock to release.

Whatever one chooses when buying a door lock, be sure to keep the priorities in the right order and consider security above all others. The inconvenience of some extra actions to lock good door locks may be considered a nuisance, but the distress and inconvenience of losing valuable, precious and irreplaceable items from the home or office would far outweigh such small sacrifices.