Windows Security, Do-It-Yourself

• Replace worn-out window putty on wood windows. Add extra glazing points (the sharp metal pieces that hold the glazing in place) for greater strength. Reinforce wood moulding with extra-long finishing nails.
  Pin double-hung windows. With the window closed, drill small holes through the top corners of the lower sash part way into the outer sash on a slight downward slant. Be careful not to drill completely through the outer sash or to damage the thermal seal. Insert a nail or bolt in the holes to prevent the window from being raised. Additional holes can be drilled that will allow the window to be locked while slightly open for ventilation.
• Block horizontal sliding windows with a length of wood laid into the lower track or with pins at the top and bottom, in the same way that double-hung are pinned. A small wooden wedge inserted between the sash and channel of a vertically sliding window is also effective.
• To prevent a horizontal sliding window from being lifted out of its track, screw several large panhead screws into the upper track just far enough that the top of the sash grazes the screw heads without jamming. This eliminates the slack above the sash. To remove the window for cleaning, the screws can be taken out and put back
• On hinged windows, use strong hinges and good quality fasteners. Replace short fasteners with longer ones that reach well into the wood of the frame and sash. Ensure that exposed hinge pins and fasteners cannot be removed.
• Permanently seal any window that is not needed for ventilation, lighting or as an emergency exit. Nail the window shut or wall it up. Glass blocks can be used in place of brick if light is required.
• Air conditioners mounted in a window frame should be bolted through the wall finish to studs to prevent their removal. Immobilize the upper window by blocking the channel with a piece of wood or pinning the sashes as described above. Fans or vents in the wall or roof that require an opening bigger than 650 cm2 (100 sq. in.) should be secured the same way.
• Don't give burglars an advantage - close curtains after dark so burglars won' know what to expect if they break in.
• Make garage windows opaque by painting them over or screen them with curtains or blinds.
• Close and lock all possible entrypoint windows when you leave the house. Install skylights so that they cannot be opened or easily removed from the outside.