Securing sliding doors, windows and the door from the garage
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
Which entries do people overlook?
The ones that are not the front door. The King County Sheriff's Office in Washington State says most burglars enter through the front, back or garage doors, and that the garage door is usually the weakest point of entry, followed by the back door, because these also give the most cover. Sliding doors and windows appear on every police list read for this guide.
How do you secure a sliding glass door?
With a blocking device, because the latch alone is weak. The King County sheriff says sliding glass doors are secured by latches rather than locks, and that those latches are vulnerable to being forced from outside. Its fixes:
- a wooden dowel or stick in the track to limit how far the door can move, or a fold-down metal bar or a track blocker screwed in place;
- anti-lift devices, such as a pin through the sliding and fixed panels, and rollers kept in good condition and properly adjusted.
Local departments agree. Lower Moreland Township police in Montgomery County say to use a blocking device on all sliding windows and doors, and that a broomstick or dowel in the inside track is enough. Northampton Township police in Bucks County say to place a strip of wood in the inside track of sliding doors and windows, and remind residents not to forget patio doors on upper levels.
What about windows?
Radnor Township police in Delaware County give a short checklist in their burglary prevention tips:
- secure all accessible windows with secondary blocking devices;
- if you leave a window open for air, block it so it opens no more than 6 inches;
- make sure nobody can reach through an open window and unlock a door;
- make sure nobody can reach in and remove the blocking device;
- use anti-lift devices.
Lower Moreland police add curtains on garage and basement windows, and say to lock all outside doors and windows before going out or to bed, even for a short time.
Can window and door security become a fire hazard?
Yes, if it traps you inside. The National Fire Protection Association says a fire can leave as little as one or two minutes to escape after the smoke alarm sounds, and advises planning two ways out of every room, often a door and a window. It says escape routes should be clear and doors and windows should open easily. If windows or doors have security bars, the NFPA says the bars need emergency release devices inside so they can be opened immediately, and adds that such releases will not compromise your security.
So choose blocking devices you can remove quickly from inside, and check every one when you walk through your escape plan, which the NFPA says to practice twice a year.
How do you secure the garage?
Treat it as an entry to the house. The King County sheriff recommends:
- keeping the bottom of an automatic garage door from being lifted enough for someone to crawl under;
- hardened steel hinges, hasps and padlocks on garage doors lifted by hand;
- cane bolts or sliding hasps on the inside of garage doors for extra security;
- locking gates, garage doors and shed doors after every use.
Lower Moreland and Northampton police both say to keep garage doors closed, and Lower Moreland says to keep them locked and to lock garden sheds. The door from the garage into the house deserves the same deadbolt as the front door; Lower Moreland police say every exterior door should have one, because a knob lock alone is not enough.
When you rekey a house, ALOA, the locksmiths' trade association, suggests including the garage locks and any storage buildings.
Do warning decals help?
The King County sheriff suggests placing highly visible decals on a sliding glass door near the latch, saying that an alarm system, a dog or a block watch is in place. Lower Moreland police also suggest "Beware of Dog" or alarm decals. Neither source says how much difference they make, so treat them as an addition to a blocking bar, not a substitute.
Which padlocks should you use?
Keyed ones. The King County sheriff says padlocks on gates, garages and sheds should be keyed and able to survive attacks with bolt cutters or pry bars, and that combination locks should not be used because they offer very poor security. Angi lists padlocks for gates and sheds at $15 to $60 for the hardware.
Does lighting help these entries?
Police and ALOA both say so. Radnor police recommend good lighting along the path and at the door, timers or photo-cells, and motion-sensor lights at the rear of single-family homes. ALOA says lights belong around doors and windows, along pathways and in dark corners, and that overgrown shrubs can hide intruders and block lighting; that is the association's security advice.
Where next?
Making an exterior door stronger covers frames, strike plates and hinges, double-cylinder deadbolts and fire safety covers locks that need a key from inside, and local businesses are on the locksmiths directory page.
Sources
- Doors and locks, King County Sheriff's Office
- Burglary Prevention Tips, Radnor Township Police Department
- Prevent Burglaries with these tips from Chief Smith!, Lower Moreland Township Police Department
- Crime Prevention, Northampton Township Police Department
- How to make a home fire escape plan, National Fire Protection Association
- Should I Change My Locks When I Move Into a House?, ALOA Security Professionals Association
- Security Beyond Locks, ALOA Security Professionals Association
- How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? [2026 Data], Angi