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How To Burglar-Proof
Your Windows
Many burglars enter homes by simply
breaking glass windows.
A good deterrent is to have better quality
glass installed
at vulnerable points around the perimeter of your
residence.
Most burglars avoid attempting to break the following
types
of glass due to the fear of attracting
attention:
LAMINATED GLASS is made by a vinyl or
plastic interlayer
sandwiched between two layers of glass. This type of
glass
adds additional strength to your windows. To gain entry,
a
burglar would have to strike the glass repeatedly in the
same spot in
order to make a small opening. Most burglars
are reluctant to create
this type of noise for fear of being
detected.
TEMPERED
GLASS is made by placing a piece of regular glass
in an oven,
bringing it almost to the melting point, and
then chilling it rapidly.
This causes a skin to form around
the glass. Fully tempered glass is
four to five times stronger
than regular glass.
WIRED
GLASS adds the benefit of a visible deterrent. Extra
effort
will be needed to break the glass and then cut through
the wire located
within the glass, in order to gain entry.
PLASTICS:
Plastic material is divided into two types :
acrylic or
polycarbonate. The acrylics are more than ten
times stronger than glass
of the same thickness and are
commonly called plexiglass. Polycarbonate
sheets are
superior to acrylics and are advertised as 250 times
more
impact resistant than safety glass, and 20 more times
than
other transparent plastic.
With SLIDING WINDOWS
the primary objective is to keep
the window from sliding or being
lifted up and out of
the track. There are many manufactured products
available
for securing windows. Here are some of the
suggestions:
PINNED WINDOW ANTI-SLIDE BLOCK
SLIDEBOLT: It is not
recommended that you lock a window in a
ventilated position.
This is an invitation to a prying action which can
result
in entry. Key locking devices offer no real security,
and
they can be a fire exit hazard.
CASEMENT
WINDOWS are the simplest to secure. Make sure
the latch works
properly and that the "operator" has no
excess play. If so, replace the
worn hardware.
DOUBLE HUNG WINDOW latches may be
jimmied open. If a window
is not used, screw it shut (except bedrooms).
For windows
in use, drill a sloping hole into the top of the
bottom
window, through and into the bottom of the top window,
and
insert an easily removable pin or nail.
LOUVRE
WINDOWS are bad security risks. Remove and replace
with solid
glass or other type of ventilating window. Or
protect with a grate or
grille (except bedrooms).
WARNING: One window in
every bedroom on the ground and
second floor must be left available as
a fire exit,
particularly for children and guests in your home.
At
night, the bedroom window may often be the quickest
and safest means of
getting out. Because of the danger
of fire, decorative grilles are not
recommended on
bedroom windows.