Home safety
Are Your Windows a Break-In Risk? (And What Safer Glass Costs)
Quick answer: About 81% of break-ins happen through a first-floor door or window, and old windows with worn latches are among the easiest. Upgrading to laminated or impact-resistant glass with multi-point locks adds roughly $100–$300 per window — turning your weakest entry point into one that makes burglars move on.
The friend who says the quiet part out loud
You know the moment — a friend's over, glances at your old sliding window, and says half-joking, "couldn't you just lift that right off the track?" They laugh. You laugh. And then you check it that night after they leave. Old single-pane glass and a 20-year-old latch aren't a lock; they're a suggestion.
What safer windows actually do
Laminated glass holds together when struck — no clean shatter, no quiet entry. It's the same technology as a car windshield: hit it and it cracks but stays in the frame, which defeats the fast smash-and-reach that most break-ins rely on. Pair it with modern multi-point locks (which bolt the sash at several points instead of one flimsy latch) and an easy window becomes a hard one.
The deterrence factor
A landmark University of North Carolina study interviewed convicted burglars and found most decide in seconds, choosing the house that looks easiest on the block. 83% said they'd avoid a home with visible security measures; 60% would pick a different neighborhood entirely. New windows aren't just about the break-in that happens — they're about the one that picks a different house.
Which windows matter most
You don't need to armor the whole house. Burglars overwhelmingly use the ground floor — about 81% enter on the first floor, only ~2% try the second. Prioritize first-floor windows, especially in back and on the sides where a burglar can work unseen. Those are the ones worth the laminated-glass upgrade first.
What it costs
Laminated or impact-rated glass with multi-point locks typically adds $100–$300 per window over standard. On a targeted upgrade of, say, six ground-floor windows, that's a few hundred to under $2,000 — cheaper than most alarm-system contracts, and it works even when the power's out and the WiFi's down.
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