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Windows
home security tips
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 Windows are an existing opening, and may also be exploited
by a burglar if not adequately secured. Most burglars are, however,
extremely reluctant to break glass as this sounds carries further than
almost any other noise, and elicits a response from most people who hear
it. Therefore, if you protect your windows, they are not a security
liability, and can provide some security benefit.
The best single protection for windows is storm glazing. Installation of
auxiliary storm windows on an existing house puts a whole additional
security layer in place, and usually provides very adequate security. On
new homes, double and triple glazing is normally used for insulation
value, and accomplishes the same function of defense against simply
breakage. Multiple layers of glazing are desirable.
Windows should be equipped with a locking device; most manufacturers
install devices which provide very adequate security if properly
maintained and used. Any lock used on windows should operate from the
inside so the window can be used for emergency exit.
Older homes may need supplemental security devices if the original locks
are no longer operable or if none exist. Double-hung sash windows can be
secured with a pin-lock similar to those described above for sliding
doors; a hole is drilled completely through the inside sash so that a
pin can be inserted which projects into the outside sash, thus securing
both in place. Care must be taken not to drill too close to the glazing.
 Consider whether you want to install "stops" on
windows to prevent them from being opened more than a pre-selected
width, typically six or eight inches, which is adequate for ventilation
but will not admit a human body. This is readily accomplished by
screwing a block of wood (or metal to match the window, if available)
into the track above the sliding sash. With stops in place, even if a
would-be intruder defeats your lock, he cannot open the sash more than
the limited width without breaking glass. Thumbscrew metal stops are
also available for some windows, which are easier to adjust/remove than
traditional wooden stops. Obviously, "stops" limit the ability
for you to use windows as a means of emergency exit, requiring you to
break out the window to quickly exit a room.
Security grilles or bars are not recommended for home use; because they
must be equipped with a device to enable them to be opened in the event
of an emergency, they are vulnerable to manipulation from the outside.
While they give the appearance of being secure, any competent burglar
knows they really aren't effective. |
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