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The Marshal wrote:Simple...

KBCraig wrote:The obvious problem is that there is no way to truly secure any glass door (whether patio or hinged), because the master key is cheap and readily available:

Don't I know it... Haha.

Thanks for all the thoughts folks. Let me update you on what I've found. First, I did not notice until this morning that there is a pin-lock mechanism at the base of the door where the two panels (the fixed glass and the sliding glass) meet. The pin, while smaller in diameter than a standard drinking straw, was not bendable, and didn't budge when I yanked on the door from both the latched and unlatched position. I will still get the PVC pipe, though. Just to be safe.

I have one security bar that prevents the door from sliding open. However, the issue I had with that was that if someone were to be crafty, they could easily use a hanger or something like a slimjim to get inbetween the frame and pry the bar up...I tried it, hence, the fear...

To bulk that up a little, I used a simple screw and stuck in the tracks of the sliding door. It's out of view and jams the door if the bar is removed. With a good forceful push, assuming someone has already pried the bar up, it probably could be overcome. However, I'm comfortable that would require a lot of noise and I'd be awake at that point.

Finally, my smoker and mountain bike are against the door on the outside patio. Just a little enhancement to cause more work/noise. Old smoker and $2 bike so if they go missing, I have a reason to go shopping.

I believe seeing this on the other side of the door would prevent just about anyone who is in their right mind from attempting to jack with your door.



I recently ran into this situation myself. I bought a sewing machine for the wife from a guy on Craigslist. When i hit his doorbell a dog on the other side of the door went nuts. Actually started banging on the other side of the door to try and get to me and was barking up a storm. I took a few steps back just out of reflex.

If i could have actually seen that big monster I might have asked the guy to just hand me the sewing machine a part at a time through the mail slot. It would have been safer.

Xpanda or one of the other companies that make security curtains for retail store fronts (like you see at the mall) makes a residential version for patio doors that looks like vertical blinds that are about 1/2 way open.

Here is a link to another company http://www.dgsecurity.co.uk/fg_fully_tracked.htm that is cheaper, but looks like a security curtain.

I seem to remember the vertical blind looking type as about $800 installed.