Front door jamb security- problem

Hi,

I'm new here and need some advice on beefing up security on my house. I live in a brick row house with plaster interior walls. Whoever installed the front door made it flush on the interior side inside a substantial trim piece. I have no strike plate at present, and need to install a hefty one. The problem is that the screws for any strike plate align with the gap between the brick wall and the plaster. It looks like there used to be a strike plate as there is a hole there, but there would be nothing substantial for the screws to grab. My feeling is that the door should not have been mounted flush, but a couple inches inside the frame so that it could be secured. I'm not keen on redoing the entire frame so short of that I would like to find an extended strike plate, with screws a couple of inches over from the edge. I cannot find such a product, however they make "extended lip" strike plates which is the right concept but extends in the wrong direction.

What is your advise on this situation? I do realize the prudent thing would be a full redo of the door frame, but I am seeking all, and hopefully easier options. You can see from the photos what I am talking about. Thanks.







You can see in the last photo the joint between the brick and the plaster.

Ok I'll try attached photos.

Door closed inside view

Inside of jamb

It may be worth making a drawing and having an iron-works shop build you a custom plate.

One option is to remove the trim and chisel out the frame to take a peice of steel 1/8 x 2 1/2 x 8 drill for screws into the frame and the stud behind it and replace the trim. That reinforces the frame and you can get stricker plates with 4 screws.

To follow up on Wuzzat's plan, you could start with one of the door re-inforces that wraps the door behind the knobs and cut and drill that to make a new stricker.

Call a locksmith, hey have the large strikeplates. Not the big box stores.