RE: Do Not Allow Criminals to Emerge to Your Surprise (Window Vibration Alarms)
After reading this, I counted my windows and started searching for the weak points. The only time I've been happy my windows are the 'old school' type; they latch in the center of the window and aren't accessible. We also have storm glass windows that are on the exterior of the window (like having another window aka more glass to clean).
We have metal screens, like you mentioned in a previous article, and they are the final barrier to the window. While it is certainly not burglar-proof, it is much more time and labor intensive.
It would create quite a bit of noise to make any attempt to open the locked window and making it more likely that the 'force multipliers' nearby would alert.
My wife works at a facility where mental health patients (most of them criminally detained) and they added security to the windows to 'secure' them. They added blocks on either side of the window which kept the window from opening more than halfway (fire hazard!). They had a patient escape out the windows after these windows were 'secured'.
No surprise that they figured out the major flaw of the 'blocks'.. How do you clean the outside of the window? You fold the top portion down! The patient simply pulled the top half of the window down, like they were going to clean the exterior, and climbed out the top of the window.
Had they opted for a sounding alarm that functions on vibration, I doubt there would've been an escape. It's a great added measure of protection and it's a great 'force multiplier' 😉
Yes, as you said, windows are tricky. There's a long post of material for them, but I just haven't felt like writing about that topic enough yet. Secure them, sure. Just never make it difficult to escape out of them. There are ways to do this that I'll share in the near future. I never want someone, or their loved one, to die because of bad window security advice!
Without a doubt, @finnian. If a security feature hinders escape in an emergency it isn't worth it. A dog at least can provide some security and companionship - I would recommend that before obstructing a path of escape.