A HOLLOW-CORE DOOR PROVIDES MINIMAL PROTECTION.A. TRUE B. FALSEA....

20.

A hollow-core door provides minimal protection.

A.

True

B.

False

Chapter 4

SECURING

WINDOWS

Locksmith and Security Professionals’ Exam Study Guide

eople who do a lot to secure their doors may be paying little attention to their windows because

they think securing windows is time-consuming, expensive, or impossible. To bur glars, windows

are often the most attractive entry points.

The materials used in making doors are also used for manufacturing window frames. Wood, alu-

minum, fiberglass, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic are the most popular for windows. As long

as the windows are well built and have good locking devices (keyless types are best), the frame

material usually has little effect on a home’s security.

Contrary to popular opinion, it usually isn’t necessary to make your window frames and panes

unbreakable to keep burglars out—unless your neighbors are out of earshot. Burglars know that few

things attract more attention than the sound of breaking glass, and they don’t like to climb through

openings that have large jagged shards of glass pointing at them. When they can’t get into a house

without breaking a window, most burglars will move on to another house.

You can make your windows more secure just by making them hard to open quietly from the out-

side. Don’t install a lock or any other device that might delay a quick exit in case of a fire. Balancing

the safety and security elements de pends on what type of windows you have. The four basic types

of windows are: sliding, casement, louvered, and double hung.

A

sliding window

works much like a sliding glass door and, like a sliding glass door, it usu ally

comes with a weak lock that’s easy to de feat. Most of the supplemental locking devices available for

sliding windows fit along the track rail and are secured with a thumbscrew. You can then keep the

window in a closed or a ventilating position, depending on where you place the thumbscrew. The

need to twist a thumbscrew can be inconvenient if you must frequently lock and unlock a window.

A

casement window

is hinged on one side and swings outward (much like doors do). It uses a

crank or a handle for opening and closing. To prevent someone from breaking the glass and turning

the crank, the handle should be removed when it isn’t being used.

How to Secure Double-Hung Windows at No Cost