Purpose of key locking on windows?

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I was wondering what is the purpose of key locking on house windows?

Once the handle of a window is pushed into the correct position the window is closed and cannot (in theory) be opened from the outside.

But some/many window handles also have a key to lock them internally. Is this to stop someone from getting out, or what is the point of the inside key lock?
 
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To inconvenience a person who might break the glass and reach the handle, or use a simple tool through a ventilation gap or transom.
 
To inconvenience a person who might break the glass and reach the handle, or use a simple tool through a ventilation gap or transom.

In my case, if someone were to break a large pane they could simply climb through this and so it wouldn't matter if the handle was key-locked from the inside.
 
Climb through a large piece of broken glass, and you might leave some blood or fingers behind.
 
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Climb through a large piece of broken glass, and you might leave some blood or fingers behind.

My large panes of glass are single-glazed float glass. I'm thinking of changing these to singled-glazed toughened. Perhaps, due to the reasons above, float glass is more of a deterrent to a potential burglar than toughened glass.
 
If you're going to change your float glass (4mm presumably) then better change it to 6.4mm laminated if you are worried about that security aspect, toughened will shatter near silently were as laminated will hold together like a windscreen
 
7mm laminated, with glazing tape.

If you're going to change your float glass (4mm presumably) then better change it to 6.4mm laminated if you are worried about that security aspect, toughened will shatter near silently were as laminated will hold together like a windscreen

My windows are timber sash.

If I change to laminated then the frames would have to be routed (weakens frame) and the weights changed due to additional weight. So easiest thing to do is use toughened glass then apply a stick-on laminate sheet.

Though if using laminate, meaning a burglar cannot break through the glass, then I again wonder what is the point of internal key-locking on window handles?
 
if you're adding the sheet, keep your float glass.
 
no point in spending extra money on a glass that breaks easily and near silently.
 
As above toughened is actually easier to break (if you know what your doing) its also quieter, Just stick with a stickon laminate.

As for locking its mainly just because insurance company's demand them to be key lockable (its an old thing from when old windows could be opened with a few gentle taps of a hammer). Personally I only key lock mine if Im away on holiday or I will lock a large opener next to a fanlight if I'm leaving the fanlight open.
 
If you leave a fanlight open, it prevents someone leaning in and opening a side-opener to gain access.
 

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