How to secure my downstairs windows and doors

[m0t]

Just had a bit of a scary evening.

Next door neighbor went out for dinner and while they were out someone smashed through the glass in their sliding doors, unlocked them and made off with their stuff.

Whilst this was going on we were sat in our dining room no more than a few feet from her back door with our windows open. We didn't hear anything.

We have the same doors in our dining room so I'm a little worried about how easy the glass was to smash. Do any of these window security films work? I'm trying to think of ways to make the door harder to get through.

 

[JP_]

What sort of doors and glass do you have? How old?

I don't know the answer, but keen to learn more myself as i know my weak area is the French doors at the back

 

[Iamchamps]

There is no answer unless you want to upgrade to a military grade glass. If someone wants to smash your window and get in they will. You need to be looking at deterrents to stop that. CCTV, alarm, safe for high value items etc.

While all these things won’t stop someone they will make your house not an easy target meaning no one will probably even bother.

Even little things like signs saying 24hr recording make people think twice.

 

[foxhole]

Bomb films works very well, we stopped several attepted thefts in our ground floor office space after it was attacked with sledge hammers.

 

[m0t]

What sort of doors and glass do you have? How old?

I don't know the answer, but keen to learn more myself as i know my weak area is the French doors at the back

About two years old and toughened glass.

Bomb films works very well, we stopped several attepted thefts in our ground floor office space after it was attacked with sledge hammers.

Do you remember what film you used?

I've just put up some cameras this morning.

 

[foxhole]

Lots of options, here's one https://www.purlfrost.com/safety-security-window-film-stickers/security-film-for-glass-windows/

but any film applied to glass help prevent penetration.