I'm looking for some info about security for patio doors.  I recently moved house and the boy next door to me got his house screwed yesterday and they got in the patio doors which are the same type as mine (open like doors not slidey).  They smashed the glass to get in round the backs and although my garden is as secure as I can make it (7ft fences and padlocks on gates) people could climb over bins that neighbours have in their gardens to get over my fence.  A break in is bad at any time but I am most concerned that if anyone breaks in they take my dog or leave the house/garden unsecured so she can escape.  i looked into getting an alarm when I moved here but it was going to be approx £700 + £35 a month for maintenance and have it linked to the police which I cannot afford just now.
I was wondering what any of you do to keep your patio doors safe from the thieving, dirty, scummy ba****ds who make peoples lives a misery.  Theres already a beware of the dog sign but my staff is a big wuss who would pee on their shoes at the worst.

If they are on drugs or something nothing will deter them, except maybe an alarm as that will alert other people.  I know from experience unfortunately and have a dog that cannot cope with life outside now since going missing and returning to my parents 2 weeks later!

Hi Ali,

Have you thought of putting that special rubber spike stuff along tops of all your fencing, gates and garden walls to prevent "comfortable" access to anyone trying to climb over to the rear of your house?  (Carpet grippers at a push - ) Additionally, have a word with your neighbours to see if they can have their bins put into a lockable storage area so they can't be used to ease access to your property.

You could also try the anti-burglar paint (don't know the correct name for it) - stuff that makes things too slippery to climb or grip onto and badly stains clothing etc of any intruders.  It's also worth adding sensor operated security lighting too ;)

Are your patio doors like regular French doors?  I have reinforced double glazed French doors (outside glass pane explodes out onto anyone trying to break in, inner pane stays intact and procedure causes a helluva explosive bang as a warning) with added security deadbolts top and bottom.  We do have an alarm as well to be fair but have not needed Thank God to have any of our safety measures put to the test but as our garden is large, fully walled, not overlooked and inaccessible from the front or side of the house we are very conscious about how secluded it could be - i.e. I'm a worry wart :D

HTH, Teri :)

Yes, we have the same glass, plus we have  3 inch bolts that once the handles are lifted go into the frame hinge side, top & bottom and 5 point locking between the two doors.  We had to have this extra locking as our french doors open inwards rather than the normal outwards.

We also have 6 dogs and a house alarm :-)

Why not get your local crime prevention officer round?

They will come round to private houses free of charge advising on security and although they are not allowed to recommend particular brands they will tell you what could be improved and what type of fittings you need to install.

I do this whenever I move house! ;)

thanks for all the advice I particularly like the idea of putting smooth-edge carpet stuff round the top of the fence coz its a wooden fence and no-one would notice until they'd ripped their clothes or got tacks in their bum!  I've got a crime prevention officer coming round next week and went to visit my neighbour and he said they walked round the back and broke the glass in the door and unlocked the key that he had left in the door (doh!).  they took some money and medals so I told him to go to the local cash gnenerator/convertor stores to tell them to expect some stolen stuff and he might get it back.  I'm more scared about anything happening to my dog in the house than them taking anything of mine and am resigning myself to the fact that I'm going to have to get any alarm and maybe buy a lottery ticket this week lol.