Wrapping foil around your doorknob is not going to stop a burglar from entering your home. It may protect the doorknob if it is antique and you’re painting or staining the door, but painters tape would be a better solution.
The myth about tin or aluminum foil on the doorknob stopping a burglary is based on rumors where people claim:
- If the foil is ripped or has fallen someone tried to access your home and may return.
- You can locate fingerprints or DNA and identify the potential intruder if they aren’t wearing gloves.
- The noise can alert a dog or animal and they can wake you at night or scare the intruder off.
Each of these theories has merit, but they also have flaws. For example wind and weather can knock foil off a doorknob, especially if you wrap it while you’re on vacation. And many homes have motion sensor lights that go on so the intruder would see the foil on the doorknob and leave the foil alone. But that doesn’t mean they’ll leave your house alone, they may try a window instead.
As for fingerprints, unless you’re changing the foil each time you go in and out, and the burglar does not wear gloves or pockets the foil, you’re not going to get fingerprints. There was an interesting study done with gloves and DNA where they simulated break ins to an office with and without gloves. The goal was to try and recover DNA samples, and you can learn more here. It is a lot harder to gather DNA from a doorknob than you’d think.
The third talking point could have merit. Dogs have incredibly sensitive ears, and they can likely pick up on the noise. This article from Newsweek has multiple reasons dogs don’t like foil, and one expert they cite shares it is the noise when it crinkles.
You could try to train your dog to respond and wake you up when the foil is crumpled or makes noise, but a lot of factors could trigger this and you’ll be getting woken up regularly. And if your dog hates the noise, you’re going to be causing them stress that is not needed.
Although foil on your doorknob is not going to protect you, you can do a few things that may help buy you time so that you can access your firearm and protect yourself from a threat situation.
- Motion sensor lighting can deter some burglars prowling at night. You’ll see many city and state government websites recommend this as one line of defense like Macon County Georgia where they also tie in noise and time, Houston Texas, and Seattle Washington.
- Alarm systems can deter some burglars, and Newport News has a tip that may help. They recommend you do not advertise which system you have as some home intruders will know how to disarm specific ones.
- Dogs barking can scare off intruders as the barking could wake you up, and the intruder does not want a close encounter with a person who may be a better fighter or properly armed for self defense.
- Cameras, including doorbell cameras, have been known to reduce package theft, and may be helping to lower burglary rates in neighborhoods where houses are equipped with them according to this article on the DOJ website about doorbell cameras.
If none of the above deter a threat situation, make sure you have a gun safe that is easy to open in your bedroom, or a quick access gun safe hidden so you can get your firearm for the worst case situation, needing to use it.
The thought of a home intruder is not a fun one, and unfortunately wrapping foil on your doorknob likely won’t deter them. It’s more myth than fact. But now you have other ways that are recommended to protect your loved ones and your home.