You Should be Locking Your Windows, Not Just Your Doors
Nobody leaves for their daily commute through the kitchen window. Doors are the main point of entry everywhere we go: houses, cars, buses, restaurants. We’re programmed to always lock the door because, in our heads, it’s the last line of defence between our valuables and thieves.
Unfortunately, breaking-and-entering through windows is almost as popular as through doors.
A Locked Window Is a Major Deterrent
The vast majority of residential burglars will aim for empty houses and quiet entries. Few will decide to forced a locked window as a point of entry. While statistics suggest that neighbours are unlikely to respond to a window breaking, it remains a huge risk.
Over a quarter of household robberies involve entering through an unfastened or even wide-open window. If there’s an open window at 2am, someone with a soft tread could easily enter your home, and perhaps multiple different rooms, for a prolonged period without causing you to stir in your sleep.
By simply locking the window securely at night, you will drastically reduce your chances of falling victim to robbery. As an extra layer of security, remember that double glazing prices are very affordable these days, and their extra toughness will make the window harder to break if someone should try to force entry.
In the simple words of the UK police force: good window locks and strong deadlocks can make a big difference. And they’re right.
Where to Install Window Locks
Most break-ins to private homes follow at least minor surveillance of the property. If a thief knows that you’re not in, they will happily take the time to climb up one or two stories to an unsecured window. For that reason, all windows must be adequately protected.
It’s not unusual to use a fence, a child’s swing, a ladder or even an overhanging tree in order to gain access to a property.
Practise Constant Awareness
While it may be easier said than done, effective window safety involves understanding that if you aren’t in a room, and the window is open, then someone else could be. Most burglaries last less than ten minutes, and a spontaneous thief could sweep up a bag full of prized possessions with just sixty seconds in your room.
While one of the benefits of double glazing is extra retained heat, in summer, we might be tempted to keep the window open for hours at a time. Try to avoid this unless you’re regularly moving around the house.
Protect Your Home With Proper Equipment
There’s a lot to be said for jumping at bargain prices for non-essential items, but when it comes to window safety, never prioritise cost over quality. The Everest GlabLock was designed in partnership with Yale, the UK lock specialists. It probably offers the best combination of security and affordability out of everything else on today’s market, making it a strong contender for your windows.
The GrabLock
If you have it, one major benefit of double glazing is that the GrabLock is designed to be used with exactly that window design. As one of the best double glazing companies in the country, we only recommend the strongest and most secure window locks. Being strong enough to support a full-sized grand piano on its own, this lock is virtually impenetrable by anyone, even with specialised tools.
Start Securing Your Home Today
People often ask “what’s the point of locking something made out of glass?”, and I hope we’ve made it resoundingly clear why it’s not only important, but critical. It’s true that a determined (and reckless) thief could still smash a locked, double-glazed window, but only a tiny minority of criminals would ever try.
Another benefit of using secure window locks is peace of mind. Especially for those who have experienced theft before, strong window locks can help you sleep more easily, with less worry about your possessions or the wellbeing of your family.
If you want your home to be safe, then embrace the minor investment and get your windows secured.
Today.