HMost thefts occur through a door or window that is too easy to open. You can make your home much more secure by taking a few simple precautionary measures. For example, it can make it much harder for burglars to enter the house if you use strong and secure locks on sliding doors and windows. In this article, we are going to give you some security methods for your home and for the locks of your sliding doors.
Your house is a showcase!
Remember that if you leave the curtains or blinds open, it will be easier for thieves to see exactly what you have at home. Therefore, a good job of preventing thefts begins by analyzing your daily routine and where you have your belongings.
Interior Inspection
Be sure not to leave items outside the house that thieves can help you access inside. For example, do not leave stairs unlocked in the garden or in a shed or workshop without closing. The same goes for heavy tools. Keep them always safe. Always keep the windows of the garage, basement or cellar closed and, if necessary, install security bars.
Think like a thief
Thieves will start by forcing a door or a window (unless, of course, you leave one open), in case the doors or sliding windows can be easier. Check that your sliding doors have as many insurances as possible and that they work correctly. Check that the locks are in good condition.
Often, thieves get access to homes easily with simple tools such as pliers, a screwdriver or a lever. So put it as hard as you can and you will most likely try your luck elsewhere.
Bowden locks on sliding doors
If you want to replace a simple mortise lock with a (more secure) cylinder lock, you must take into account several important factors:
- The depth of the lock on the door.
- The distance between the latch and the retaining bolt, which is usually 110 or 72 mm.
- The length of the cylinder is equal to the thickness of the door (normally 60 mm).
If the door already has a cylinder lock, the retaining bolt must protrude at least 20 mm. It is easier to change the lock if the body of the lock and the strike are the same sizes as in the old lock. If this is not possible, choose a lock with a larger plate so that the new fixing screws fit into different points of the door wood. You can also install an additional safety pin on the door.
Anti-theft lock
If you install a lock with an anti-theft lock instead of a simple one, the thief cannot use a screwdriver to push and remove the retaining bolt. To install an anti-theft lock, you must drill or cut a hole in the door frame large enough to fit the strike.
Install anti-theft pins
Anti-theft pins help prevent a thief from unlocking the door without removing the hinge pin.
Drill holes 10 mm in diameter and 30 mm deep at about 5 cm from each hinge. Insert the anti-theft pins into the holes with the pointed ends protruding from the door.
Next, press on the door to close it so that the pins, when protruding, mark the points of the door frame where the holes for the shirts should be drilled. Drill such holes with a diameter of 17 mm and a depth of 20 mm.
Then you can insert the shirts in the holes. You can place three anti-theft bolts on each door.
Additional lock
If you want one of your sliding doors to be even more secure, you can place a secondary lock on the bottom of the door. Install this secondary lock exactly like the main lock in the middle of the door. If you do not have enough space for this type of lock, you can always install a surface lock on the inside of the door.
Greater security with a multipoint lock
A multi-point lock fixes the door at three different points. The three locks are operated with a single key. It is installed just like a simple lock except for the fact that the strike extends for the entire height of the door.
Multipoint surface lock
There are also multipoint locks in the form of surface locks. These locks have the advantage that they can be installed on the door without major alterations. The central lock is installed in the same way as a simple surface lock. The two bars connect the central lock with the two anchor points: one at the top of the door and another at the bottom. The bars can be cut to the appropriate length and then fix the guides.
Note that the ends of the bars must be longer than the door since they must come into contact with the upper and lower door strikes when closing the door. First, place the upper strike on top of the door frame. Then, if necessary, drill a hole in the ground (the end of the bottom bar will enter). Finally, check that all parts of the bar mechanism work correctly and without problems.
Install security grills in basement windows
You can install security bars or bars in front of or behind the basement windows. You will often find security bars or grills ready to fit in standard-sized window frames, but otherwise, you can do them too. Divide the width of the window frame into sections of about 20 cm and mark the positions of the bars. Using a drill or chisel, mark the holes in the wall (they must be at least 8 cm deep). Check that the bars are well placed both vertically and horizontally and fix them with cement.
Protective films
You can apply a self-adhesive sheet so that, in case of breakage, the window does not jump in a thousand pieces (being very small, these pieces can be very sharp and dangerous). Cut the sheet to the right size and stick it on the glass. It is easier to place this self-adhesive sheet if you first moisten the glass with a soapy water solution. Then, you can pass a glass dryer to remove water and any remaining air bubbles from under the sheet. Then let it dry … and that’s it!
These are some security measures that you can implement in your home to secure the sliding door locks. It is not necessary that you apply all the measures to the same door, use the one that best suits your home and your need, but maintains the security of your home.