Break-In By BREAKING sliding glass doors????

[infiniteMPG]

We're looking at installing an alarm system and including door access
switches on all exterior doors including 3 sliding glass doors into
the screened porch and window opening sensors on all windows. We're
debating on glass breakage sensors as the windows are basically too
small to get thru without opening them, BUT if someone were to break
the glass out of a sliding glass door WITHOUT opening the sliding
glass door, that wouldn't trip a door opening sensor (as far as we
know).

Our question is if that's a common occurance as we hear many stories
of opening sliding glass doors but haven't seen much about someone
smashing a 4-foot wide X 7-foot tall piece of heavy glass to get into
a house. We already have motion sensing lights behind the porch but
didn't really care to add +$400 of glass breakage sensors that don't
do much. Plus we have had issues (at my girlfriend's house) with
glass breakage sensors tripping when a toilet seat gets dropped and
even once when I blew my nose directly under one.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[KingFish]

We're looking at installing an alarm system and including door access
switches on all exterior doors including 3 sliding glass doors into
the screened porch and window opening sensors on all windows. We're
debating on glass breakage sensors as the windows are basically too
small to get thru without opening them, BUT if someone were to break
the glass out of a sliding glass door WITHOUT opening the sliding
glass door, that wouldn't trip a door opening sensor (as far as we
know).

Our question is if that's a common occurance as we hear many stories
of opening sliding glass doors but haven't seen much about someone
smashing a 4-foot wide X 7-foot tall piece of heavy glass to get into
a house. We already have motion sensing lights behind the porch but
didn't really care to add +$400 of glass breakage sensors that don't
do much. Plus we have had issues (at my girlfriend's house) with
glass breakage sensors tripping when a toilet seat gets dropped and
even once when I blew my nose directly under one.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I had a customer I took over because somone tooka concrete block and threw
it though his sliding glass door. The block ended up across the room in a
closet they threw it so hard. The newer glass sensors are less problematic.
There are no quarantees with glass break sensors though. If drapes are
drawn they might not work in all areas of a room.

 

[tourman]

We're looking at installing an alarm system and including door access
switches on all exterior doors including 3 sliding glass doors into
the screened porch and window opening sensors on all windows.  We're
debating on glass breakage sensors as the windows are basically too
small to get thru without opening them, BUT if someone were to break
the glass out of a sliding glass door WITHOUT opening the sliding
glass door, that wouldn't trip a door opening sensor (as far as we
know).

Our question is if that's a common occurance as we hear many stories
of opening sliding glass doors but haven't seen much about someone
smashing a 4-foot wide X 7-foot tall piece of heavy glass to get into
a house.  We already have motion sensing lights behind the porch but
didn't really care to add +$400 of glass breakage sensors that don't
do much.  Plus we have had issues (at my girlfriend's house) with
glass breakage sensors tripping when a toilet seat gets dropped and
even once when I blew my nose directly under one.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

RHC: It has been my experience, in a large city, where neighbours are
relatively close by, that a thief would much rather pry the door open
sideways, or lift it up out of it's track, than he would break a large
pane of glass with it's resultant loud noise. That's not to say it
won't happen; however, thieves are generally wary of three
things....too long to get it\n, too noisy to get in, or causing
themselves to be exposed by what they are doing. Breaking a large
glass door pane results in a noise like a gunshot !! However, if you
are in a rural area, the situation can be quite different.

As a minimum, the door should be on the alarm system, have a patio
door swingdown bar installed, and screws above the door so it can't be
lifted out of it's track. A single glass break pointed at the door
within 15 feet or so, can't hurt either. Or use a door contact that is
combined with a glassbreak device....I think Sentrol make one. And
don't forget an alarm warning decal on the door either.....

You don't want them even to start attacking the door. If they break
that glass, the average patio door in our area is about $1000 to
replace. Your insurance deductible is likely $500 which means you are
out of pocket that much whether they get in or not......

There is other information about the all important physical security
aspects of your home on my website....www.homemetal.com

 

[Jim]

We're looking at installing an alarm system and including door access
switches on all exterior doors including 3 sliding glass doors into
the screened porch and window opening sensors on all windows. �We're
debating on glass breakage sensors as the windows are basically too
small to get thru without opening them, BUT if someone were to break
the glass out of a sliding glass door WITHOUT opening the sliding
glass door, that wouldn't trip a door opening sensor (as far as we
know).

Our question is if that's a common occurance as we hear many stories
of opening sliding glass doors but haven't seen much about someone
smashing a 4-foot wide X 7-foot tall piece of heavy glass to get into
a house. �We already have motion sensing lights behind the porch but
didn't really care to add +$400 of glass breakage sensors that don't
do much. �Plus we have had issues (at my girlfriend's house) with
glass breakage sensors tripping when a toilet seat gets dropped and
even once when I blew my nose directly under one.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Through the years I've had a few forced entrys occur through patio
doors by way of picnic benches, garden rocks, and shovel, among other
similar objects. Not often mind you, but it does happen. Glass break
detectors can be a problem by being set off by various sounds within
the home, but the new ones are getting better and better with each
generation. Nowdays, there are some detectors that require four (sound
of window breaking related) events to take place before an alarm is
tripped. On the other hand, not having a glass break detector when
needed, would seem to be a bigger problem to me. It's not very often
that a glass break detector is the cause of a reported false alarm
with police response. It usually happens when someone is at home.
Squaking birds, barking, jumping, running dogs seem to be the biggest
problem followed by breaking dishes, dishes/silverware rattling in the
sink and audio surround sound noises.

In the short term, I'd suggest that you put the seat down with greater
care and go into a closet when you blow your nose.

 

[KingFish]

In the short term, I'd suggest that you put the seat down with greater
care and go into a closet when you blow your nose.

I bought me one of those seats that lowers slowly and quietly. Man that is
the Ritz. Not expensive either.

 

[Frank Olson]

In the short term, I'd suggest that you put the seat down with greater
care and go into a closet when you blow your nose.

I bought me one of those seats that lowers slowly and quietly. Man that is
the Ritz. Not expensive either.

.... or one of these babies:

http://www.aqualux.ca/db/product.php?productid=262

Hey Jim - I understand the newest version even comes *with* an MP-3
player built into the remote control.

 

[Jim]

... �or one of these babies:

http://www.aqualux.ca/db/product.php?productid=262

Hey Jim - I understand the newest version even comes *with* an MP-3
player built into the remote control. �

I was going to get me one of those slo motion seats but I figured as
soon as I installed it would be the day that I would get a case of the
"green apple quick step" and I wouldn't be able to get the damn seat
down in time.

 

[Crash Gordon]

Networkable and GPS options too.



--
**Crash Gordon**

 

[Frank Olson]

Networkable and GPS options too.

Sure... like you wanna track where all that stuff goes...

 

[KingFish]

... or one of these babies:

http://www.aqualux.ca/db/product.php?productid=262

Hey Jim - I understand the newest version even comes *with* an MP-3 player
built into the remote control.

Wow, you Norte Americanos sure are decadent.

 

[Crash Gordon]

ewwwww.



--
**Crash Gordon**

Sure... like you wanna track where all that stuff goes...

 

[Crash Gordon]

Actually, those puppies are from Japan.



--
**Crash Gordon**

 

[Jim]

... �or one of these babies:

http://www.aqualux.ca/db/product.php?productid=262

Hey Jim - I understand the newest version even comes *with* an MP-3
player built into the remote control. �

Yeah, mine only plays one song when I lift up the seat

"You've got the whole world in your hands"

My wife tried to change it to "Little things mean a lot" but I locked
her out of the player.