Some other ideas, with their own pluses and minuses:
We installed L-shaped brackets on the inside of our window frames, which make
it impossible to open the window more than 8 inches or so. Not as secure as
bars, of course, because someone could still break the glass -- but breaking
glass makes a lot of noise. It's still a fire hazard because we can't open the
windows to crawl out if we need to; although we could break glass too, in an
emergency. We also left the lowest-risk windows unbracketed.
A neighbor told me that you can buy brackets that can be flipped open, so that
you can open your windows further if you are home and want to enjoy a breeze,
or if you need to escape in an emergency. I suppose that an intruder could
theoretically reach in from outside to flip them open, but that would require
knowing how they work (and having really, really long arms).
Installing a deadbolt on your front door will keep someone from leaving your
house through it without a key. Although you shouldn't rule out the
possibility that the intruder went back out through the window. That happened
in at least one of the recent Osage burglaries -- and it was a second story
window. (It's worth mentioning that on Osage, entry was made through second
and third story windows.)
An alarm system, of course, may include components both to prevent entry and to
detect someone unauthorized inside. Our alarm company tells us that "security
screens," window screens that trip the alarm if cut or lifted, are available.
I have not priced them out. (If you are looking for an alarm company, we have
been absolutely delighted with Advent Security of Oreland;
www.adventsecurity.com.)
Hope this helps.
Lisa
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