Over 320,000 home break-ins occurred in the United States in 2020 according to FBI statistics.1 Unlocked homes accounted for a surprising 38 percent of the break-ins and forcible entry accounted for the additional 56 percent of the burglaries.2 It was also reported that a large majority of break-ins occur during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. when thieves assume homeowners are at work.3
The most obvious thing you can do to secure your home is to make sure all the doors and windows are locked.
The sliding glass patio door is one of the doors that most people overlook when securing their homes. Being at the back of the home, out of view of neighbors, the patio door is a vulnerable spot when it comes to home security. Glass patio doors are also more difficult to secure than solid wood, steel or fiberglass doors.
A licensed locksmith has the knowledge and skills to fortify the protection of your sliding glass doors.
Contributing Factors
The reasons why people love their sliding glass doors are also the same reasons why they are one of the weakest links in a home’s security. Homeowners want to bring the outdoors and the light in with large expanses of glass and sliding glass patio doors are a great way to do so.
Unfortunately, those large expanses of glass provide burglars with a great view of the contents of your home. Blocking the view into your home from your sliding glass door can be accomplished in a number of ways. Curtains, vertical blinds, and roller shades are all popular choices, as are innovative sliding panel track blinds.4
How to Deter
An alternative is to apply an adhesive film to your glass. There are several types of adhesive films available in pre-cut sizes or rolls that can be trimmed to fit your glass.5 Frosted films are translucent enough to let light in, but not allow burglars to see into your home. The drawback is that you can’t see outside your home very clearly. Mirrored films are an alternative that during the day let you see outside clearly but prevent anyone outside from seeing into your home.
The drawback to mirrored films is that at night, with the lights on, people outside your home can see into the home but the occupants can’t see outside.
The wide expanses of glass on sliding patio doors are also vulnerable to being broken by burglars. Choose hurricane-rated glass doors when buying new patio doors. If you already have patio doors, they usually come with tempered glass, which breaks easily, shattering into tiny pieces that a burglar can easily navigate without getting hurt. To make your glass stronger, add a shatterproof window film. You will still be able to see out of the window but if the glass is hit the adhesive window film will prevent it from shattering out of the frame and will make it more difficult for a burglar to breach your home.
Added Protection
Burglars often use crowbars to pry sliding doors off their tracks. An easy do-it-yourself fix which can prevent the door from being opened is to place a wood or metal rod in the track of the door. The rods can be manipulated to jump the track, but anything that makes it harder for the burglar to break in makes your home safer.
Security bars are available which have a pressure mounting system that works like a shower curtain rod. These are preferable to wood or metal rods. The best security bar is a Charley bar, which is placed further up on the door, rather than in the track of the door. Charley bars are actually screwed into one side of the door frame so they can swing in and out of place.
The locks on sliding glass doors are also vulnerable points as most are latching locks which are made up of a metal hook that fits into the door frame. These latches become loose over time and begin to slip, making them easy for burglars to open with a simple jiggle or with a screwdriver. For security, a latching lock should be replaced with a sturdier aftermarket lock.
A deadbolt lock can be installed so that it goes into either the side of the sash or into the floor or ceiling mid-track. As many latching locks can only be opened from the inside, if you frequently go into your home through the sliding door you should consider adding a lock with a key or keypad for convenience and security.
Consider a Reputable Locksmith Service
A professional locksmith can provide advice on the best ways to secure your sliding glass door and can also help you select a sturdy lock, which the locksmith can also install. Securing one of the most vulnerable entry points to your home, your sliding glass patio door, can not only prevent burglaries, but it can also increase your overall peace of mind.
Action Locksmith is dedicated to keeping the residents of Michigan safe and at ease about their home’s security. As a family locksmith business, we know how important it is for families to always feel safe in their homes. That’s why we make sure to keep up to date on technology, codes and systems in all areas of locksmithing.
Our skilled and experienced team will make sure your doors, windows and safes are up to date, reinforced and fixed. Call anytime!
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1, 2 Home Break-In Statistics by Kara McGinley, 12/22/2022
Link: https://www.policygenius.com/homeowners-insurance/home-break-in-statistics/
3 Surprising Home Burglary Facts and Stats by Deane Biemeier, 1/23/2023
Link: https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/home-security/home-invasion-statistics/
4 The Best Window Treatments for Sliding Doors of 2023 by Jasmine Harding, 4/21/2023
Link: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-window-treatments-for-sliding-doors/#Godear%20Design%20Adjustable%20Sliding%20Panel%20Track%20Blind
5 How to Secure a Sliding Glass Door to Prevent Burglary and Home Invasion by Meghan Wentland, 1/11/2023
Link: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-secure-a-sliding-glass-door/