Security Advice Brisbane: Don’t Forget the Side Gate!

In Brisbane, where the lifestyle is laid-back and the weather invites open windows and breezy afternoons, home security can sometimes take a back seat. But there’s one key area of vulnerability that too many homeowners overlook , and it’s not the front door.

It’s the side access gate.

For many homes across Brisbane’s suburbs, side gates offer a clear, often unsecured pathway straight to the rear of the property. Whether you live in an older Queenslander in Woolloongabba or a newer build in North Lakes, if your side gate isn’t properly secured, you’re leaving an open invitation to opportunistic offenders.

Why Side Access Is a Target for Break-Ins

While front doors are highly visible and often reinforced, side gates are usually:

• Light timber or metal, easily jumped or forced open

• Left unlocked for convenience or deliveries

• Unlit or hidden from view by fences or shrubs

• Positioned out of sight from both neighbours and the street

Criminals know this. In fact, offenders across Brisbane suburbs have repeatedly identified side access points as their go-to entry point in opportunistic break-ins. They’re quick, discreet, and rarely alarmed.

It’s not always about elaborate planning. Sometimes it’s as simple as walking past, spotting an unlocked gate, and seeing what else is unsecured.

Common Brisbane Home Layouts and the Risk

Brisbane’s suburban architecture often includes:

• Long, narrow side paths between houses

• Minimal fencing between front yard and side gate

• Rear doors or laundry entries with less reinforcement

In post-war homes and Queenslanders especially, the layout almost encourages side entry. Combine that with minimal street lighting or high backyard fences, and you’ve got a blind spot that even the most alert neighbour can’t monitor.

Practical Ways to Secure Your Side Gate

You don’t need to spend a fortune to close this security gap. Here are four practical, affordable steps:

1. Install a Lockable Latch or Deadbolt
Swap out basic latches for keyed locks or pad bolts that are tamper-proof from the outside. Don’t rely on simple turn-style mechanisms.

2. Add Motion-Sensor Lighting
Offenders avoid light. A small solar-powered motion light aimed at the gate or side path can be enough to deter them.

3. Use Gravel on the Pathway
This one’s underrated. Gravel makes noise. Adding it along your side path makes it harder for someone to walk quietly along the side of your house.

4. Secure the Gate from the Inside at Night
If you’re home, consider using an internal slide bolt or wedge system that stops the gate from opening, even if someone tries to force it.

Bonus tip: If your side gate is tall and solid, add a peephole or camera to give you visibility from the inside.

Why This Matters for Brisbane

Brisbane’s crime stats show a consistent pattern - break-ins don’t always happen through smashed windows or doors. Often, it’s about unlocked or lightly secured access points. Thieves are after the quickest, quietest entry, and side gates offer just that.

In many local incidents, offenders have admitted they simply walked into yards looking for unlocked back doors or valuables in sheds and outdoor areas. With properties close together and fences hiding most of the action, these break-ins can go unnoticed even in broad daylight.

Suburbs like Carina, Chermside, and Ipswich have seen repeated reports of this tactic. But no suburb is immune, it’s a widespread vulnerability across Greater Brisbane.

Behavioural Insight from a Criminologist

As a Criminologist, I always say: security is about reducing opportunity.

Offenders choose the path of least resistance. If your home is slightly harder to access than your neighbour’s, it’s less likely to be targeted. That includes the often-overlooked side gate.

Security measures don’t have to feel invasive. Something as simple as a locked gate or a well-placed light can change the behaviour of someone who’s casing a property.

Bolster Home SAS Advice: Side Gate Security Check

Here’s a quick checklist to assess your side gate security right now:

• Is your side gate lockable (and locked every night)?

• Is it tall enough to deter climbing (1.8m or more)?

• Is it visible from inside the house or covered by a camera?

• Is the path lit or fitted with motion-activated lights?

• Could someone access your back door or shed easily via the gate?

If you answered “no” to any of these, it’s time to make some quick improvements.

Final Thoughts

Side gates might seem like they are just a way to bring in the bins or let the dog through. But to someone looking for a way in, they’re a perfect opportunity.

Take a few simple steps and you’ll turn a weak point into a line of defence.

If you’d like a professional eye on your property’s vulnerable points, Bolster Home SAS offers curated home security assessments across Brisbane. With Criminologist-informed advice, you’ll get practical solutions that suit your home, your lifestyle, and your budget.

Don’t wait until something happens.
Contact Bolster Home SAS for a security walk-through and discover how safe your home really is.