Top 10 Ways To Secure Your Home Windows

There are many different ways to keep residential home windows secure from criminals. Don't let yourself fall victim to the various common mistakes that homeowners might run into. According to the FBI, burglaries of residential properties account for 71.6 percent of all burglary offenses. Windows are a common point of entry for a criminal and they tend to be left unlocked or open at much higher rates than doors - particularly in warmer weather. Check out our top 10 list for ways that a homeowner can secure their home windows against unauthorized entry from burglars and other home invaders.

10.Use plants and bushes outside residential windows

 
 

A great way to enhance both the security of a home, and the beauty of it, is by surrounding the ground floor windows with various plants and bushes. While not hindering the homeowners ability to get fresh air and see out the window, plants can be both beautiful and helpful in regards to keeping ones home safe. By planting thorny, sharp, and prickly flowers or bushes such as cacti around the outside of the home, it can drastically reduce the homes appeal to a burglar or home invader. Not only can nature help keep your home safer, but it will also look great and could potentially increase the home's value.

9. Install motion sensor lights outside ground floor windows

Another good method for securing your ground floor windows from intruders is to keep them well lit and covered by motion sensor lights. Motion sensor lights work by activating when they detect movement. These are great types of lights to add around your windows if you are trying to scare off burglars and other criminals.

8. Keep all doors and windows locked

 
 

The BJS reported that about 40% of the time criminals gain unlawful entry into an unoccupied residence, it's through an unlocked door or window. Remember to always keep your windows and doors locked when you aren't home. The most likely time for a burglary to happen is when no one is home during the summer.

7. Get security warning stickers and signs

Another great way to scare criminals away is by placing security warning stickers on your windows. Even if you don't have an alarm system, security stickers will tell intruders that you do, making them think twice about their actions. According to a study by UNC Charlotte, approximately 83 percent of burglars would try to determine if an alarm was present before attempting a burglary and 60 percent said they would seek an alternative target if there was an alarm on-site.

6. Add extra locks to all sliding windows

 
 

In a lot of cases, windows are secured by latches instead of locks, meaning they can be more easily compromised. Add additional security hardware to further secure your windows and prevent unauthorized access. A lot of windows are easily forced open as they are only held closed by a plastic tab that can be broken. Keep your windows locked tight with interior metal window locks. These block the tracks that the windows slide in so that the window can't be moved.

5. Keep all windows barred shut

In addition to keeping your windows locked you could invest in some security bars to keep your windows barred shut. Security bars are an important tool for keeping your most vulnerable windows secure such as those that face busy streets, dark alleys, parking lots, and trails. Show criminals that you're prepared for them with a visible security bar and make them reconsider selecting your home as an easy target. Prime-Line Products offers steel window bars through suppliers such as Amazon.

4. Keep window blinds and curtains closed

 
 

Keep your windows covered so criminals can't see inside your home. Don't let potential burglars or home invaders window shop your belongings. Keep prying eyes out and your windows covered with blinds and curtains. Another great security solution is to replace your transparent glass window with frosted glass to obscure vision into your home.

3. Use window alarms to alert you of movement

There are many standalone alarms you can purchase to keep your windows protected. Window alarms are perfect for downstairs windows, that are near entryways, or in bedrooms; as they simply stick to glass with no installation. The vibration of the glass sets off the alarm which should wake and alert everyone home that someone is breaking in. Not only do these devices alert you to any potential break-ins, but they are also visible to criminals. This lets them know that by breaking into your home they will be drawing a lot of attention to themselves, which is something thieves and burglars try to avoid.

2. Use metal bars or grills on ground floor windows

 
 

Although bars might not be the most attractive things to look at, they are excellent for keeping burglars or home invaders out. Research shows that that if it takes more than four or five minutes to break into a building, the criminal will go elsewhere. Security bars and grills provide too tight an obstacle for burglars to climb through, yet they are large enough to not obscure your view or airflow. The only downside to burglar bars is that they could pose a potential fire hazard.

1. Reinforce glass windows

 
 

The statistics show that in the USA, of all burglaries in 2010, 60% involved forcible entry. Reinforce your glass windows by covering them with a clear protective film to keep them from being shattered easily. You could also invest in stronger glass for your windows such as reinforced glass, smash-proof glass, acrylic glass, or Polycarbonate.

Keep Your Home Windows Secure

Your safety is important and that's why you should always be mindful of residential window security. Don't undermine your home's safety by neglecting the security of your windows. Remember that your home's security is only as strong as it's weakest link, so stay safe and stay protected.

Read more safety tips from our other home security articles.

About Us:

Locksmith Services Longmont provides 24/7 locksmith services to the residents and businesses of the Northern Colorado region. Our Longmont Colorado locksmiths are excellent at what they do, and they can quickly assist with lock and key services such as: lockouts, rekeying, lock installations, lock changes, lock replacements, lock repairs, and more. Call us anytime or book online through our website. We provide locksmith services to those who are located in areas such as: Denver, Boulder, Longmont, Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Estes Park, Westminster, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Fort Lupton, Firestone, and much more!

Important Safety Tips For Your Home Garage

Garages can often be used for many different purposes besides just storing a car. Below are some helpful tips that can be used to make a residential garage safer.

Be Careful Storing Dangerous Chemicals

An important safety tip for keeping a garage safe is to store all the dangerous chemicals away from children and animals. Remember to hide or elevate any potentially hazardous liquids and materials such as gasoline, pesticides, fertilizers, paint thinners, bleaches, oils, etc.

Keep any propane tanks locked up and disconnected when not in use and make sure to store any flammable liquids away from open flames and hot spots.

Consider investing in some garage organizer bins to prevent tripping hazards and utilize garage ceiling space to keep things off the floor.

Keep Storage Areas Organized To Avoid Accidents

A great way to passively keep yourself and others safe in the garage is to install shelving and other adequate storage containers. By keeping the garage and the surrounding storage areas neat and organized it will help to reduce clutter, therefore lowering the possibility of tripping on something. Consider investing in a storage solution that will utilize the garage ceiling for storage space and keep the floor clear of anything that could be a tripping hazard.

Watch Out For Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Garages are common places for carbon monoxide buildups, which is hazardous to human health and potentially fatal if left unchecked. Carbon monoxide gas is completely odorless and invisible to the naked eye.

While in a closed garage, never leave a vehicle running or use power equipment with an internal combustion engine like portable generators or pressure washers. Carbon monoxide can also leech from a garage into a home and potentially cause other health and safety concerns. Consider installing a carbon monoxide alarm in the garage for increased peace of mind.

Be Aware Of Flammable Materials And Liquids

While this still might fall under the category of storing dangerous chemicals, it's still important to mention the hazards of flammable materials.

Don't store any items such as gasoline, paint thinner, or anything flammable near an ignition source such as a hot water heater or air conditioning unit.

Always make sure that the garage is properly ventilated so no harmful toxins can build up. Always keep a class B or C fire extinguisher somewhere in the garage where it can be easily accessed.

Make Sure The Garage Is Well Lit

Another safety tip for the garage is to always ensure that it is well lit— both inside and outside. Keeping the garage bright outside will help to scare off burglars, and keeping an inside light on will help prevent tripping hazards and might confuse potential intruders as to whether someone is home.

Make sure all light switches are easy to find, not covered or blocked, and in an easy to access location. Put switches for outside lights inside the garage so they can’t be used from outside. Consider investing in a utility shop light with a pull string to hang from the garage ceiling.

Keep The Garage Door Well Maintained

Since the sliding garage door itself is such a big entrance, it's important to make sure it closes securely and is in good condition.

A good practice is to walk around the interior and exterior of the garage door and make sure all the bolts and screws are tightened. Make sure to test any electric garage door openers if possible and regularly check the trip sensor to double check the door will stop closing if an obstruction is detected.

Consider investing in a garage door sensor that can send alerts when the garage door is left open.

Be Aware Of What’s In The Driveway

Did you know that each year more than 9000 children are treated in emergency rooms for injuries that occurred while they were unattended around motor vehicles? Safekids.org also advises parents to walk all the way around their parked car in the driveway to check for children before reversing or driving off.

Keep items like toys, bikes, chalk, and anything else that could attract children or thieves locked in the garage or a storage area instead of outside on the driveway.

Consider investing in a driveway motion alarm to receive notifications when movement is detected.

Make Sure All Garage Entryways Are Secure

An important part of keeping every garage safe is to always ensure that the doors and windows leading into the garage are sturdy enough to keep out burglars.

Install high security locks on all entrance doors and keep every window covered as to prevent potential burglars from peering inside.

Use keyless deadbolts to keep doors locked from the inside only at night and keep all overhead garage doors locked securely when at home.

Child And Pet Proof The Garage

According to the ASPCA there are many items commonly stored in garages that are hazardous and potentially fatal for young children and pets. Some of these garage dangers for children and pets include insecticides, veterinary products, household items, prescriptions, rodenticides, and garden products like herbicides and fungicides.

Keep garages safe by being aware of where items are stored, even for those that don't have a pet or a child. Be prepared for visitors and any worst case scenarios; always try to keep garage interiors as kid and animal friendly as possible.

Protect Vehicles From Theft Or Burglary

Keeping personal and work vehicles securely locked in a garage is a good way to keep burglars and other criminals away from the home. Vehicles that are left parked in the driveway, on the street, or in a parking lot are much more likely to be vandalized, broken into, or even stolen than those in a garage. The safest thing that can be done for a vehicle is to keep it secure in a garage with the keys tightly locked away in a separate room.

Those with a keyless entry system might consider keeping their car keys locked away securely overnight so thieves can't exploit the radio signals in the fob to remotely gain access to the vehicle.

Keep Garages Safe With These Important Garage Safety Tips

Every garage door is an important part of a homes perimeter, so keep it well maintained and it will function properly for a long time. Keep in mind the dangers that all items may pose to the health and safety of the occupants.

Locksmith Services Longmont is a local locksmith company in North Colorado. We provide fully mobile 24/7 locksmith services to homeowners and businesses in Denver, Longmont, Boulder, Greeley, Fort Collins, Estes Park, and more. Call us today or book online for help with lockout services, rekeying, lock changes, lock installations, and other locksmith services in Northern Colorado.

North Colorado Lock Changing Services

Locksmith Services Longmont is your local lock and key provider in the Northern Colorado area. Our technicians are highly trained professionals who have been fully background checked for the safety and security of our customers. Locksmith Services Longmont is open 24/7 for all types of locksmith services in the Northern Colorado area - communities such as Longmont, Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Loveland, Estes Park, and more. Call us anytime at (303) 900-0549, day or night, for prompt and affordable locksmith service in Northern Colorado.

 
 

Looking for a lock changing service in Northern Colorado?

There are many differences between a lock changing service and a rekeying service. A lock rekeying service is the process of taking an existing lock apart and making it match a new set of keys. A lock changing service changes the lock hardware completely. A lock changing service is typically inexpensive and can be done in one quick visit by a qualified locksmith technician.

Learn more about “What is lock rekeying?”

Do you need new electronic locks in Northern Colorado?

Businesses and homeowners in Northern Colorado can call Locksmith Services Longmont at any time of the day or night for fast, affordable, and honest electronic lock installation services. Having locks changed from traditional mechanical locks to electronic ones is often a good idea for homeowners and businesses interested in smart locking capabilities. An electronic lock changing service in Northern Colorado might be a good option when locks become faulty and the best security is required. Certain electronic locks have smart locking functions that allow them to sync to a mobile device, allowing for automatic locking and unlocking, based on smartphone proximity.

Interested in lock replacement services in Northern Colorado?

Locksmith Services Longmont is highly adept at replacing older locks in exchange for newer ones. Deadbolts, doorknobs, and other locking hardware will begin to degrade over the course of many years. When locks eventually do become inoperable, sometimes a lock changing service is the best option versus attempting a repair. New locks come with a new set of keys, but a locksmith professional is also capable of providing lock rekeying services to get all the locks to match.

Lock brand we work with:

 

  • Defiant

  • Kwikset

  • Schlage

  • Baldwin

  • Emtek

  • Yale

  • Cal-Royal

  • Arrow

  • Brinks

  • Etc…

 

Residential Lock Changing Services

 
 

Locksmith Services Longmont offers professional lock changing solutions to homeowners, tenants, realtors, property managers, individuals, and more. Our mobile locksmiths in Northern Colorado can change old locks with identical ones or even upgrade them to new high security locks such as smart locks or locks with electronic keypads. Locksmith Services Longmont technicians work with many different types of locks on all types of doors in the Northern Colorado area. 

Our expert mobile lock and key technicians can arrive at your house, apartment, condominium, duplex, mobile home, mansion, villa, or other dwelling for prompt and efficient lock changing services. Our locksmiths can provide 2 working keys with each lock installed; however, they are capable of making extra keys if required. We can help those who have just moved into a new home in the Denver metro area. Locksmith Services Longmont offers 24 hour emergency lock replacement services in Denver, Colorado and the surrounding communities of Northern Colorado.

Our lock replacement and changing services in Northern Colorado are covered by a free and extensive warranty for our customers. If, for any reason, issues do come up with the performance of a changed lock, call us back and present the receipt for free repair work. All of our residential locksmith technicians in Northern Colorado are highly trained experts who have years of experience, and they have been background and drug checked for the safety and security of our customers. Locksmith Services Longmont is always open, 24/7, for all types of residential lock changing services in Northern Colorado!

Commercial Lock Changing Services

 
 

Locksmith Services Longmont always offers upfront pricing and professional solutions for our commercial lock and key customers. Our technicians can repair, rekey, and change out commercial locking hardware such as mortise locks, push bars, door closers, commercial lock strikes, and more. All of our locksmiths in Northern Colorado are professionals in their field and are highly capable of handling a wide variety of commercial lock changing services.

Call us for lock changing services for buildings such as: gas stations, clinics, offices, malls, rented spaces, franchises, restaurants, etc…

Locksmith Services Longmont professionals are always available, 24 hours a day, to perform emergency locksmith services in Northern Colorado. Our Denver locksmith team, and our mobile locksmiths further north, can be with you in 30 minutes or less after your call. Ask us about fixing broken locks, installing keyless locks, lock cylinder replacement, commercial lock changing services, and more.

Our mobile North Colorado locksmiths can change, replace, and repair commercial locks such as electronic locks, high security locks, IC Cores, commercial levers, and much more. Locksmith Services Longmont should be your first choice for all types of commercial lock changing and rekeying services in communities like: Longmont, Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Westminster, Brighton, Broomfield, Firestone, Estes Park, and much more!

Summary

Locksmith Services Longmont should be your first choice for all types of lock changing services in the North Colorado area. We can replace, change, and repair locks for businesses, commercial properties, and homes. Call us anytime, day or night, at (303) 900-0549 for fast, honest, inexpensive locksmith services. In addition to same day services in 30 minutes or less, our locksmiths also provide future booking through our online booking page.

Our local and mobile locksmiths in Northern Colorado can change door locks after emergency situations or for more common reasons like moving into a new home. Locksmith Services Longmont can help with all types of lock and key emergencies in North Colorado such as lock changing, replacing, and repair services.

Locksmith Services Longmont has mobile locksmiths in Colorado who can help with: digital locks, electronic locks, lock changes, lock repairs, lockouts, commercial lockouts, business lock changes, deadbolt locks, door knob locks, key extractions, automotive locksmith services, gate locks, residential lockouts, etc…

Contact Locksmith Services Longmont for lockouts, lock changes, rekeying, lock installations, and more in the Northern Colorado area.