Check to make sure your sliding glass doors have a lock on them.  Normally they’ll only come with a latch, this isn’t the same thing as a lock.  The latches are most often made of a cast metal or aluminum, which is not sturdy.  They are easily worn out and misaligned.  Because sliding glass doors are usually located in back an inadequate latch will offer little resistance to an intruder. Sliding door security starts with making sure you can lock the door effectively.  There are locks available at the hardware store specially made for sliding glass doors.  They are relatively inexpensive and take almost no time at all to install.  It is definitely worth investing in one.

During the summer months many sliding glass doors are left open for the warm air to move through, or for a pet to come and go as they please.  The large majority of home invasions are accomplished because a door was left unlocked.  It’s very easy to open the sliding glass door and then forget to lock it again.  You don’t have to keep it locked up day and night but a few extra precautions go a long way in sliding door security.  For example, simply placing a wooden dowel in the sliding door track will greatly aid in keeping it secure.  Make sure it’s long enough that it can only be opened a few inches.

Getting a lock for the bottom of the sliding door track is another great idea.  All you have to do is drill a hole or two in the metal, one for when its closed and the other for when it’s open part of the way.  This way the lock can be moved and allow you to open the door for ventilation while remaining conscious of sliding door security.

To prevent sliding glass doors from being lifted off the track make sure the rollers are in good condition and properly aligned.  Also install self-tapping screws in the upper track.  The head of the screw will protrude just enough to allow you to open and close the sliding glass doors without allowing the rollers to be removed.

Finally, place a security system decal in plain view on the sliding glass doors.  Even if you don’t have a security system, many intruders report that just the warning that you might is enough to make them move on.  If you can’t get one of these stickers, a Beware of Dog sign will work just as well.  These are the most basic, yet likely most important, steps in sliding door security.

It’s important to door security to know what kind of doors you have.  Just with sliding glass doors, you need to know what your other doors consist of.  Solid wood doors are the most common and great for door security.  They are not easy to break or damage and will make a lot of noise if someone tries to do so.  You can also find metal doors that are paneled with wood to give it a better look.  Obviously these are the most impenetrable, but are also the most expensive.

As with sliding door security, the main security risk with your doors is accidentally leaving them unlocked.  If your home is older, check to make sure the lock is still tight.  The screws on the lock tend to loosen with time and a loose lock is one that’s easy to compromise.  Just locking your door by the handle will also hurt your door security.  The door is locked, but it is not that much more secure than if it was left unlocked.  One well-placed kick will have a burglar in your house without anyone having a chance to notice.  The best way is to lock both the handle and the deadbolt every time you leave the house.  A door chain can also serve the same purpose.  They are easy to install and very inexpensive.  They’ll allow the door to only open a short way, which is great for your door security.

Also consider getting special hinge screws.  These are longer 3” screws and are easy enough to get installed in your door.  They are specially designed to prevent the door from being pushed in if the hinge pins get removed.

The most recommended solution to entrance door security is to keep the entranceway clear.  Most police departments suggest this as the best way to keep a burglar from thinking your home is a good target.  Keep all tree and shrubs well trimmed at all times.  Burglars really only need one thing to victimize you and your family, and that is privacy.  With enough privacy all the door security in the world can be breached.  Make sure at every doorway there is enough open space that no one could possibly hide there.  These simple steps will take your door security to the next, protected level.