While most glass windows are not manufactured to be unbreakable, you can install protective film to strengthen the integrity of your windows. The film, applied in a manner similar to window tints, gives your window a shatter-proof quality from the exterior side of the glass.
The most effective deterrents for home burglaries and car theft were CCTV cameras, the panel said. They also named loud barking dogs, strong heavy doors, a TV being switched on and locked UPVC windows as the next most likely to put them off breaking into a home.
Double glazing is virtually burglar-proof as it's incredibly hard to break, effectively putting two barriers between you and potential thieves. Furthermore, the gas in-between the gaps also acts as a shock absorber.
Though not truly “unbreakable,” this type of security glass can withstand heavy, repeated impacts. Unlike standard window glass or even some tempered safety glass, laminated security glass will not shatter inwards when it is broken.
Measure your window opening and get the appropriate sized bars or security grills. Place your security bars in the window opening and mark where the fastening screws will go. Drill holes in the window frame for installation of the bars. Install the security bars.
Burglar bars can be placed on the inside of the windows of your home to make the exterior of your home more aesthetically pleasing. The are safe to use, provided that they can easily be removed within a few seconds with the use of a quick-release mechanism in the event of a fire.
Do Burglar Bars Work? Yes! Just the sight of a home with barred windows is usually enough to deter burglars from even attempting to break into your home.
Bars over windows can keep burglars from entering the home, but they can just as easily trap occupants inside if they aren't installed correctly. “They're meant for security reasons but in a fire situation they also become an entrapment,” said St. Petersburg Fire Lt. Steven Lawrence.
The term can be a bit misleading because what people are usually referring to when they say “shatterproof” is laminated safety and security glass. This type of glass is not actually unbreakable as you might have been led to believe, but it is very shatter-resistant.
Polycarbonate Unbreakable Glass
In fact, according to some estimates a polycarbonate window is over 200 times more resistant to impact! Compared to standard glass windows, they offer superior protection against burglaries and weather-related disasters.
Burglars usually break your window only if they can't bypass your door and window locking system. However, often, they look for another target rather than smash the glass.
Homes with single glazed windows are at the highest risk, as the windows provide many points of weakness, becoming an easy target for burglars. With one pane of glass within a frame, old single glazed windows can be easily broken and shattered.
Add a Sash Jammer to your uPVC Doors or Windows
Sash jammers are great extra security for any uPVC door or window, they are a cheap and quick way to improve your security.
Riot Glass laminated security glass is 100x stiffer and 5x stronger than traditional interlayer safety glass and is proven to delay forced entry by at least 4 minutes or completely deny entry. This type of glass won't stop bullets, but it can withstand multiple ballistic impacts and help with bomb blast mitigation.
Although tempered glasses don't easily break. The impact can break it. For example, a tempered screen protector can handle low drops. But dropping it from a higher altitude and with more force tends to create cracks and scratches.
The quenching process leaves the glass hardened so that it is now approximately 4 to 5 times stronger, and therefore more resistant to breakage, then it was before the tempering process. If it does break, tempered glass shatters in small pieces that are less likely to cause injury or damage than non-tempered glass.
Spanish properties have bars on the windows as a measure of protection against break-in or burglary, to allow safe open ventilation in hot weather, and to provide safety for pets and children. Also, some insurance providers require the fitting of bars or provide discounts for such security measures.
While grids are more ornamental, they do add a little security to window panes. Even if the glass is shattered, the grids may stay in place for a time to prevent quick entry by burglars. As mentioned, grilles are made of metal where grids are constructed mainly out of wood.
Window Bars
One of the simplest and most affordable solutions for how to burglar-proof windows is to install bars on the exterior of the windows. These bars keep would-be thieves from being able to gain access to the window to force it open or break the glass.
In addition to serving as a crime deterrent and offering an increased sense of security, burglar bars can benefit you in other ways. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors says the barrier can prevent children from falling out a window.