A house is burgled almost just about every minute in Australia.* And the most common way burglars access a house is via an open door or window.
While you may regularly check your doors are locked when leaving the house, how many times have you left a window ajar to allow a cool breeze into the house while you are out or asleep?
An open window can be a particularly attractive entry point for a would-be burglar as they are usually round the back – away from nosy neighbours who may spot them breaking in – and are sometimes shaded from view by bushes and trees.
To ensure your home is secure, follow these window security tips from your local expert locksmith in Richmond.
How to ensure your windows are safe from break-ins
Check your frames are solid and secure. The best lock is useless if your frames can be simply lifted out of the sill – a common problem with old aluminium sliding windows.
Make sure your sash windows open and close easily – if it’s a struggle to close it, you’ll be less likely to do it. You can get a handyperson out to gently sand back the frames for smooth operation and also replace any worn sashes so they open and – importantly – close with ease.
If there are windows that you’d like to leave open for a breeze or to reduce condensation – like in a bathroom – then ensure that you add special locks on them that allow them to be locked open at a point that allows the air in but not a person.
Check all your locks are screwed in properly to the frame and can’t be unscrewed from the outside. On older, outward opening windows you might find that the wooden frame has weakened or rotted, allowing someone to easily separate the lock from the frame with a bit of force. In this case, it might be necessary to replace the whole frame or add another method of security like a security screen.
Consider an alarm for your windows. If you’re particularly worried about someone accessing your home via a window, you could install an alarm system. The noise from an alarm is usually enough to scare off a burglar before they get into your house.
While you may be vigilant about keeping your ground floor windows locked, also consider whether someone could gain access via a first-floor window. If you’ve left a ladder in an unlocked shed or have garden furniture that could be easily dragged underneath a clearly open first-floor window, you’re giving someone easy access to your home.
Remember that the harder you make it for someone to break in, the more likely they are to give up.
Just like when you move into a new home you change the locks on your front and back doors, you should also change the locks on your windows. You don’t know who may have a copy of your keys, and rekeying your locks is a simple process for a our Richmond locksmiths.
We can come out to your home and assess your window security and provide recommendations to upgrade or replace your locks as required.
*Based on statistics compiled by ABS from figures provided by State and Territory police
