How to secure a sliding glass door

You cherish your sliding glass door for the plentiful sunlight it welcomes in and the effortless access it offers to your backyard. These doorways are desirable elements of any Gulfport home, but also present safety risks. See why they’re targeted by intruders and what you can do to stop unauthorized entry.

Why sliding glass doors are frequently targeted in Gulfport

As appealing as sliding glass doors are to residents, they’re also attractive to burglars. There are a few straightforward reasons why. To begin with, they are generally constructed more for aesthetics than security. Most don’t utilize deadbolts, and their locks are usually a cinch to circumvent. Burglars also have a greater opportunity of approaching unseen as the doors are located at the back of your house. 

How do trespassers circumvent sliding doors?

When experiencing sunny days and nice temperatures, your sliding glass door may be the most-used entryway at your house. You might a routine of keeping it unlatched so your children can easily go back and forth to the backyard. Even when you lock your door, determined prowlers can circumvent it. Here’s how:

• Pick the lock. A lot of sliding glass doors have non-keyed locks that housebreakers can unlock with a common tool.
• Smash the glass. Home invaders are more inclined to shatter glass when they’re concealed from view. The thin glass of numerous sliding doors is easy to smash.
• Remove the door from its track. Criminals may try to pry the door off the track and yank it away from the frame using a crowbar or other equipment so they may slip through.

Even though it’s easy to get around sliding glass doors, it’s also not difficult to improve your security. See how you can do so.

Better protect your Gulfport home’s sliding glass door

If you want to enhance the security of one of the most at-risk entryways in your Gulfport home, here’s how you can.

• Install security cameras. When potential thieves spot cameras around your house, they’ll likely find a less protected target. They don’t want to take the chance of being caught on camera. You can even choose surveillance tools that actively scare off thieves with sound and lights.
• Integrate door sensors. Connect contact and glass break sensors within your comprehensive security system. The alarm will trigger if an unwanted visitor attempts to intrude or break the window. You’ll also receive an alert through your home security smartphone app.
• Add a more secure lock. Reinforce your basic flip lock with a deadbolt designed for sliding doors. Foot bolt locks are terrific add-ons and straightforward to use. You might also incorporate a more robust, key-turned deadbolt.
• Install a security bar. A security bar or brace is a time-tested approach that provides another layer to your security. These are typically solid wood or metal reinforcements positioned within the lower door track. Ensure it’s sized properly for a secure fit.

Open the door to improved security with a Vivint smart home in Gulfport

Better protect your sliding glass door and all your home’s entry points with a fully connected smart home in Gulfport from Vivint. We have all the devices you need, from door and window sensors to surveillance cameras. If something activates, you and your 24-hour monitoring specialists will be alerted instantly. Contact (228) 338-1467 today to find out more and schedule your professional installation.