UPDATE: Sliding glass doors...

[stevie_d_64]

Simple...

[Dwight K. Schrute]

The obvious problem is that there is no way to truly secure any glass door (whether patio or hinged), because the master key is cheap and readily available:

Don't I know it... Haha.

Thanks for all the thoughts folks. Let me update you on what I've found. First, I did not notice until this morning that there is a pin-lock mechanism at the base of the door where the two panels (the fixed glass and the sliding glass) meet. The pin, while smaller in diameter than a standard drinking straw, was not bendable, and didn't budge when I yanked on the door from both the latched and unlatched position. I will still get the PVC pipe, though. Just to be safe.

[Big Calhoun]

I have one security bar that prevents the door from sliding open. However, the issue I had with that was that if someone were to be crafty, they could easily use a hanger or something like a slimjim to get inbetween the frame and pry the bar up...I tried it, hence, the fear...

To bulk that up a little, I used a simple screw and stuck in the tracks of the sliding door. It's out of view and jams the door if the bar is removed. With a good forceful push, assuming someone has already pried the bar up, it probably could be overcome. However, I'm comfortable that would require a lot of noise and I'd be awake at that point.

Finally, my smoker and mountain bike are against the door on the outside patio. Just a little enhancement to cause more work/noise. Old smoker and $2 bike so if they go missing, I have a reason to go shopping.

[LedJedi]

I believe seeing this on the other side of the door would prevent just about anyone who is in their right mind from attempting to jack with your door.



I recently ran into this situation myself. I bought a sewing machine for the wife from a guy on Craigslist. When i hit his doorbell a dog on the other side of the door went nuts. Actually started banging on the other side of the door to try and get to me and was barking up a storm. I took a few steps back just out of reflex.

If i could have actually seen that big monster I might have asked the guy to just hand me the sewing machine a part at a time through the mail slot. It would have been safer.

[NAK]

Xpanda or one of the other companies that make security curtains for retail store fronts (like you see at the mall) makes a residential version for patio doors that looks like vertical blinds that are about 1/2 way open.

Here is a link to another company http://www.dgsecurity.co.uk/fg_fully_tracked.htm that is cheaper, but looks like a security curtain.

I seem to remember the vertical blind looking type as about $800 installed.