Home Window Security Bars

There are very few security measures that are more visually apparent than window security bars. Apart from the effectiveness of the bars, or grills in preventing a thief gaining entry to your home, the mere visual presence of the bars will put many a would-be burglar off trying.

Whatever method the housebreaker used to try and get through the burglar bars would involve two things, noise and time. Thieves hate making noise and hate spending time, they want to be as quick and quiet as possible.

Why then aren’t these window security bars protecting all the windows on all of the homes that we see?

There are indeed some neighborhoods like that. But for most of us barred windows do little to enhance the visual appearance of our homes. It is true that we do want to do all that it is possible to do to protect our families and our property from burglars and other intruders, but on the other hand we don’t want our homes looking like high security prisons.

There are home window security bars available that are designed to look a little more appealing to the eye whilst still giving as much protection as possible. Some are fashioned with wrought iron scrolls, or other fancy ironwork, others are designed to appear to be part of the window frame itself.

Many of us though, limit the use of security bars to basement windows or windows that are out of the view of neighbors or people passing by. Not so much because of the ugliness of the bars, but because these are the kind of windows that burglars love, they can work unseen.

As a more eye friendly alternative, collapsible gates or roller shutters can be fitted that are designed to be hidden by your drapes and give a good measure of protection. When not in use these shutters/gates are slid out of view.

In our quest to make our property secure from intrusion we must not forget other dangers, particularly fire.

What would be the consequences for your family being trapped by a fire in a room where the only escape route was blocked by security bars?

In fact in most areas today there are building codes, local laws and regulations that require security grills to be of the quick release type. These have devices fitted that operate from the inside and allow the grills or bars to be opened quickly and easily if you need to make an emergency escape.

These regulations apply whether you fit the home window security bars yourself or have a contractor fit them. Check which security bars, or grills, are approved for your area. Even if non-opening grills are allowed do you really want to install them and put your family at risk?

Some of these quick release grills are operated without a key and are therefore the safest type; you don’t want to be fumbling around for a key in the event of a fire. Be sure that all members of your family, including young children, know how to operate the quick release mechanism. Practice emergency escapes with your entire family.

Do not forget that your garage and outbuildings can also be protected by window security bars and here the aesthetic look of the bars may not be as much of an issue.

It must be kept in mind that home window security bars are not 100% intruder proof. Some have bars that are saw resistant and all will involve the burglar spending a good deal of time attempting to get in.

Many criminals will pass on your home when they see burglar bars are fitted and move on to a less protected property. But there is always the possibility of a housebreaker defeating the bars, and so, like all security measures, grills and bars are best as part of an overall security system for your home.

Window Security Bars from Amazon.com

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