Most home security advice focuses on the front door. Most break-ins happen through windows and sliding doors. The mismatch is striking and the fix is surprisingly cheap.
Why the front door is not the problem
The front door is usually the most secure entry point in a Pakenham home. Solid timber, multi-point lock, well-lit, visible from the street. Burglars know this and rarely try the front door if anything else is available.
The window problem
Standard aluminium-framed windows from the 80s and 90s have a small latch that engages a notch on the frame. After 30 years of use, the latch is worn and the window can be pushed open with steady pressure. Even brand new windows often have weaker latches than you would expect.
Window restrictors and locks
The simplest fix is a window restrictor - limits how far the window can open. Useful for ventilation while preventing entry. Cost $15 to $40 per window in parts, $100 to $200 fitted across a typical home.
Better is a keyed window lock. Window can be fully secured with a key. Cost $25 to $60 per window in parts, $200 to $400 fitted across a typical home.
The sliding door problem
Sliding glass doors are particularly weak. The standard locking hook has been worn smooth over years of use. Even when 'locked', the door can sometimes be lifted up out of its track and removed entirely.
Sliding door bars and pins
The cheapest fix is a length of timber or metal in the track. Total cost $5 at Bunnings. Stops the door from sliding open. Looks daggy but works.
Better is a proper sliding door lock - key-operated bolt that secures the door panel to the frame. Cost $80 to $150 fitted.
Best is an anti-lift pin that screws into the top track and prevents the door from being lifted out. Combined with a quality sliding door lock. Cost about $150 to $250 fitted for both.
What this actually buys you
Around 60% of residential break-ins in Australia come through windows or sliding doors. Spending $300 to $600 to upgrade window and sliding door locks does more for your security than $1,000 on the fanciest front door deadbolt. The locks are also visible from outside, which deters opportunistic burglars before they try.