How to secure a sliding glass door

You love your sliding glass door for the abundance of daylight it brings in and the effortless access it delivers to your backyard retreat. These doorways are desirable features for any Decatur home, but also pose safety risks. See why they’re a target for intruders and what you might do to prevent unauthorized entry.

Why sliding glass doors are frequently targeted in Decatur

As attractive as sliding glass doors are to residents, they’re also attractive to intruders. There are a couple of reasons why. First and foremost, they are typically designed more for utility than security. Most don’t use deadbolts, and their locking mechanisms are often easy to circumvent. Prowlers also have a better chance of approaching without being seen as the doors are found at the back of your house. 

How do trespassers force entry through sliding doors?

When experiencing nice temperatures and sun-splashed days, your sliding door might be the most-used doorway at your home. You might a pattern of leaving it open so your children can go back and forth to your outdoor space on their own. Even when you secure the door, determined intruders can circumvent it. Here’s how:

• Jimmy the lock. Many sliding glass doors have standard locks that intruders can circumvent with a common tool.
• Shatter the glass. Thieves are more likely to break glass when they’re concealed from view. The thin glass of numerous sliding doors is not difficult to break.
• Pry the door from its track. Criminals might attempt to pop the door out of its track and move it away from the frame using a crowbar or other tools so they are able to squeeze through.

Even though it’s easy to bypass sliding glass doors, it’s also not hard to step up your security. Learn how you can make it happen.

Better defend your Decatur home’s sliding glass door

If you’re ready to enhance the security of one of the most susceptible entryways in your Decatur house, here’s how to do so.

• Install security cameras. When potential intruders spot video cameras at your property, they’ll likely find a less secure target. They won’t want to risk being caught on camera. You can even find surveillance systems that actively scare off thieves with lights and sound.
• Connect door sensors. Incorporate glass break and contact sensors within your comprehensive security system. The alarm will trigger if an unwanted guest tries to intrude or break the window. Advanced systems will even alert you with alerts to your security system’s cell phone app.
• Upgrade the lock. Replace or complement your simple flip lock with a sliding glass door deadbolt. Foot bolt locks are terrific solutions and easy to use. You might also choose a more robust, key-turned deadbolt.
• Add a reinforcement bar. A security bar or brace is a time-tested method that brings another layer to your protection. These are traditionally solid wood reinforcements fitted inside the door’s bottom track. Make sure it’s sized properly for a tight fit.

Open the door to better security with a Vivint smart home in Decatur

Better safeguard your sliding glass door and all the entry points in your home with a fully connected smart home in Decatur from Vivint. We offer all the equipment you need, from window and door sensors to indoor and outdoor cameras. If anything trips, you and your 24-hour monitoring experts will be informed right away. Contact (256) 305-1902 today to learn more and book your professional installation.