Did you know that it takes less than one minute for an experienced burglar to break into a home? It’s true, and with nearly eight million property crimes in the United States in 2015, now’s as good a time as any to review your home security plan. Even if you’ve already taken pains to reinforce or lock your front door and windows, your home could still be vulnerable—especially if you have a sliding glass door. These kinds of doors are often left unsecured, making them a favorite target for burglars. Here’s a look at four common weaknesses that make sliding glass doors easy targets—and what you can do to keep them secure. Even if you’re good about locking your sliding glass doors, that may not be enough to deter an experienced thief. Most built-in sliding door locks are really more like simple latches, and would-be burglars can easily bypass them just by jiggling the door a bit. Given how weak the inbuilt latches on most sliding doors are, adding an extra lock is a good way to reinforce security.
This heavy-duty lock from Prime-Line is made of hardened steel and can be installed at the top or bottom of your sliding glass door. The setup will require a few tools, but the reliable loop structure will make it tough for any burglar to jimmy the door open once the lock is installed. This lock is designed to prevent unwanted guests from jiggling a door loose. It bolts onto the sliding glass door, and the moveable pin locks into a base plate on the frame. It’s easy to install, and the keyed element provides a bit of extra protection—just make sure you know where the key is in the event that you need to make a quick exit. Whether they’re installed in the back or on the side of a home, sliding glass doors tend to be fairly concealed. This means fewer prying eyes, which gives thieves the opportunity to enter unnoticed. While not a substitute for a lock or security bar, this GE alarm can quickly let you know if your door has been breached. In comparison with some other alarms, this model is extremely easy to set up, and it has a couple of alarm options that can be played when triggered.
The sound of the alarm alone may be enough to scare off a burglar, and even if it’s not, you can reach out to the authorities as soon as you hear it go off. Because sliding doors are made of easy-to-break materials, a detector that alerts you to shattered glass can be a smart addition to your home security arsenal. This detector goes off whenever the glass it’s attached to is tampered with, and it comes with a red warning sign that lets potential intruders know that the door is secured. Though the sensors are very sensitive, users report no issues with false triggers from high winds or thunder. Sliding glass doors are essentially large windows into your home, and they give burglars a front-row seat to view electronics, art, and other valuables. This privacy film allows light in while obscuring specific details, protecting your valuables from being on display. It is easy to apply and leaves no residue when removed. This is a good solution for those who don’t want to deal with installing potentially costly blinds or drapes.
Another alternative to traditional drapes is a flat-panel track shade. These shades are equipped with rollers to work perfectly with a sliding glass door. They may require a bit more time to hang than a cling film option, but they also contribute much more actively to your home’s interior aesthetic. While sliding glass doors provide a nice aesthetic and can really brighten up a room, they aren’t as intrinsically secure as a door made of steel or solid wood. If a thief really wants to get in, breaking the glass panels or pushing the doors off their tracks isn’t too difficult to pull off. It takes more work, and has more chance of being noticed, but it’s a vulnerability that a determined burglar could exploit. Though it may seem like a fairly basic solution, a wooden dowel can be one of the most effective and affordable ways to bolster your security. Insert the dowel into the track of the sliding door, and it will keep the door in place, even if a burglar bypasses the lock.
Take extra care to make sure the dowel fits snugly in the track—you may need to cut a few inches off if your door has smaller panels—and is thick enough that it won’t crack under a blow. If you don’t want to deal with cutting a wooden dowel down to a custom size, then the Lock-it Block-it Home Security Window Bar could be a good choice. This adjustable security bar is made of durable PVC and is designed to handle multiple impacts, making it nearly impossible to force a sliding glass door open or knock it off its track. Plus, many find it more aesthetically pleasing than a having an unfinished wooden dowel sitting in the door frame. You can easily turn your sliding door into an invisible burglar barrier with this clear film. Made of a transparent polyester material, this film strengthens your sliding glass door, making it virtually shatter-proof. This reinforcement can withstand repeated, violent blows, which means a bad guy would have to spend significant time and cause quite a ruckus to break through.
After examining all the ways your sliding glass door can cause trouble, it may be tempting to board it up or trade it out for a different door altogether—but you don’t have to resort to such drastic measures. It is possible to reinforce your security and make it a lot harder for potential intruders to get in. Take a closer look at the products and solutions listed in this article, and decide which precautions you want to take to improve your sliding glass door security. *SafeWise has conducted impartial research to recommend products. This is not a guarantee. Each individual’s unique needs should be considered when deciding on chosen products.HelloPlease Sign InNew Customer? Register HereStandard Panel Pet DoorThe “Hale Standard Panel™ Model” is an extremely popular choice with customers because it allows you to have an attractive, sturdy pet door in your home without making a hole in your wall or door. The Standard Panel is anchored into your existing patio door frame, and is designed to fit into the track of your current sliding glass door.
It comes with double-pane insulated, tempered glass with your specified size of pet door already installed. For added security, it locks directly to the leading edge of the sliding door with a patio door style lock. Our Standard Panel is not compatible with Anderson or Pella products. Instead, choose our Omni Panel pet door, which is compatible with Anderson and Pella. Please use our downloadable form to assist you in measuring. NOTE: Since each of our panels is custom made, only a 50% credit toward the purchase of a new door will be given if it is returned. NOTE: Individual options may vary the price of your order. Choose your options below to see customized pricing before adding to the cart. SHIPPING AVAILABILITY: Since each panel is custom made to our customer's specifications our panels are not "in stock". We order the glass individually for each panel so shipping can take up to two weeks. SPECIAL SHIPPING NOTE: We can manufacture panel models in almost any height required by our customers.
However, Fedex has imposed some limitations on what size of items can be shipped through it's "Ground" service. Therefore, if your panel model is over 96" in height, please call for a shipping quote to determine if there will be an additional charge added to your order.How to Measure for a Standard Panel Pet DoorCUSTOMIZE AND BUY NOWHave questions? Click "details" below or call us at (800) 646-4773.Total: $Door Size: Small (5 1/2" x 7 1/2") Small Medium (6 1/2" x 9 1/2") Tall Small Medium (6 1/2" x 12 1/2") Medium (8 1/2" x 12 1/2") Tall Medium ( 8 1/2" x 16") Large (11" x 16") Tall Large (11" x 19 1/2") Tall Large Plus (11" x 23 1/2") Extra Tall Large (11" x 27 1/2") Extra Large (14" x 19 1/2") Extra Large Plus (14" x 23 1/2") Giant (15 1/2" x 27 1/2")Details Please pick the appropriate size pet door for your pet. Pick the number of flaps you would like on your panel model. Standard is double flap. Training Flap:Yes No Details
A training flap is optional. See "details" for situations when you may wish to order one. Pick the frame color you would like for your pet door. Overall height of slider: Details Please write in the overall height of your slider measured from inside one track to flush with the other track. Click "details" for more information. Direction the slider closes (inside looking out):Right Left Details Pick whether your door slides closed to the right or to the left. Panel will be installed on:Slider Stationary DetailsPlease specify whether your panel unit will be installed on the sliding side or the stationary side of your patio door. IF you choose the stationary side, BE SURE your stationary panel can be moved over toward the sliding side. Please specify how much clearance you would like underneath your pet door. Low E (optional-add $193.00 to price):Yes No DetailsPlease specify if you would like Low E coating applied to the glass in your panel for more energy efficiency.