How to secure a sliding glass door

You cherish your sliding glass door for the abundance of daylight it brings in and the effortless access it delivers to your outdoor living space. These entrances are desirable aspects of any South Bend residence, but also come with security concerns. See why they’re a target for theives and what you might do to prevent unauthorized entry.

Why sliding glass doors are commonly targeted in South Bend

As sought-after as sliding glass doors are to families, they’re also enticing to thieves. There are some simple explanations. Primarily, they are commonly designed more for function than security. The majority don’t utilize deadbolts, and their locks are usually simple to circumvent. They’re also positioned at the rear of your South Bend house, giving prowlers a better opportunity to approach undetected. 

How do intruders circumvent sliding doors?

When you have bright and sunny days and warm temperatures, your sliding glass door might be the most-used entryway at your house. You might a pattern of leaving it unlocked so kids can effortlessly enter and exit to the backyard. Even when you secure the door, determined prowlers can bypass it. Here’s how:

• Pick the lock. A lot of sliding glass doors have non-keyed locks that burglars can force open with a common tool.
• Smash the glass. Prowlers are more prone to break glass when they’re hidden from sight. The thin glass of countless sliding doors is easy to break.
• Pry the door from its track. Burglars could attempt to pry the door off of its track and yank it away from the frame with a crowbar or other devices so they may slip through.

Despite the fact that it’s easy to bypass sliding glass doors, it’s also easy to improve your security. See how you can make it happen.

Better defend your South Bend home’s sliding glass door

If you’re eager to improve the security of one of your South Bend property’s most susceptible doors, here’s how you can.

• Implement video cameras. When prospective intruders spot video cameras at your property, they’ll most likely try to locate a less secure target. They won’t want to take the chance of being captured on camera. You can even find surveillance tools that actively discourage prowlers with lights and sound.
• Use entrypoint sensors. Incorporate contact and glass break sensors within your comprehensive security system. The alarm will go off if a burglar attempts to intrude or shatter the glass. You’ll also be sent an alert through your home security smartphone app.
• Install a more secure lock. Replace or complement your simple flip lock with a deadbolt designed for sliding doors. Foot bolt locks are popular options and easy to use. You can also choose a sturdy, keyed deadbolt.
• Add a security bar. A door brace is a simple solution that brings an additional layer to your protection. These are traditionally solid wood reinforcements positioned within the bottom door track. Make sure it’s designed properly for a tight fit.

Open the door to a new level of security with a Vivint smart home in South Bend

Better protect your sliding glass door and all the entry points in your home with an integrated smart home in South Bend from Vivint. We offer all the equipment you need, from window and door sensors to surveillance cameras. If a device trips, you and your 24-7 monitoring experts will be alerted immediately. Call (574) 601-4641 today to get more information and book your professional installation.