Patio Door Locks and Other Safety Ideas

Patio door locks are an important subject because FBI statistics show that more than 40 percent of all residential burglaries target first-floor doors. Patio doors are often a target because they are in the back of the home and allow a burglar more freedom to operate without the same visibility in the neighborhood that trying to break into a front door offers.

Consider Patio Door Locks

Many sliding glass patio doors, particularly older doors, are secured with latches as opposed to locks. A latch offers very little protection to a burglar with a crow bar. That's why more secure patio door locks are very important for your sliding patio doors.

• Clamp locks. These are generally placed either on the bottom or top track of the sliding patio door. Sometimes, the lock is situated so the door can be opened slightly. Installation requires drilling a hole through the door to attach the lock. These types of locks also sometimes come with keys.
• Foot operated locks. There are a few types of these foot locks that, obviously, are placed on the bottom track. Sometimes there is a pedal that unleashes the locking mechanism, other times there is a pedal that can be pushed down to engage the lock.

Beyond Patio Door Locks

Most security experts agree that locks for sliding patio doors aren't nearly as secure as locks with deadbolts on entry doors. There are some extra measures of protection that owners of sliding patio doors should consider.

• Charley bars. These are bars that extend from the side or top of the door and into the lower track of the door. Someone who tries to open the door from the outside, even if the lock is defeated, will be blocked by the bar. It's important that the bar be made of a substantial material - either solid wood or metal or something similar.
• Secure the sliding door track. One common way to defeat a sliding patio door is to lift the door off the track and simply remove it. The way to avoid this is by inserting three screws into the tracks. This should be done carefully so that it secures the tracks but does not restrict the movement of the sliding door.
• Decals and signs. Putting up security signs or decals warning of an alarm system or a guard dog can be successful in thwarting a burglary attempt. While burglars realize many of these signs and decals aren't truthful, it makes sense to choose a home that appears to offer the easiest and quickest entry.