From lockable handles to crossbar locks
Preventing burglaries of houses and flats begins long before door and window security is installed. Anyone who announces a long holiday on social networks or their answering machine and lets the letterbox overflow is practically inviting burglars in. By contrast, anyone who asks the neighbours to empty the letterbox regularly and to switch on a light in the empty home during the evening hours is already doing a great deal right. And if someone also closes the roller shutters in the evening and opens them again in the morning, something crucial has already been achieved. Then the mechanical security devices come into play: above all for detached houses and ground-floor flats.
Laminated safety glass delays entry
Fitting windows with laminated safety glass (LSG) makes life harder for burglars. This type of glass cannot simply be smashed in order to reach through and open the window's locking mechanism. That is how an intruder gets in quickly and largely unnoticed. LSG is bonded with a film that always holds the glass together. Experts distinguish between various classes of anti-throw and anti-break glass. LSG has two further advantages that are completely independent of burglary protection: if someone falls through the glass, the risk of serious injury is low. Because the film holds the pane together, no shards are produced when it breaks. LSG also makes a contribution to thermal insulation: it helps to reduce heating costs.
Lockable hardware hampers offenders
If safety glass is not used, lockable window handles delay entry. The offender then does not merely have to knock a small hole in the pane, reach through it and unlock the window: after that he opens the sash and climbs in with ease. But if the hardware is lockable, the burglar has to smash the entire window. That takes longer, is louder and thereby attracts witnesses. Above all, however, the risk of injury to the offender from splinters of glass is considerably greater. Absolute protection against burglary is impossible - in 2014 there were, on average, 45 break-ins into houses and flats per day in Austria. By way of comparison: in Germany a burglary occurs every 3.5 minutes. The police know, however, that most offenders spend only three to five minutes trying to force their way into a property. For burglary protection this means: anything that delays entry drives the offender away.
A high-security lock stabilises the window
Among experts, a rule of thumb applies to protecting a window against burglary: one additional securing point per running metre. This is provided, for example, by a bar lock, which offers two additional securing points above and below the window. It puts up strong resistance to levering attacks from outside and can be fitted to almost all inward-opening windows. This secures the closing side optimally. For the hinge side, hinge-side security is a good option and, like the bar lock, it is simple and convenient to operate. Combining these two elements ensures optimal burglary resistance for the window.
Resistance classes designate doors
Anyone considering burglar-resistant doors as part of a new build or renovation would do well to look into the DIN EN 1627 standard. It defines various resistance classes using the abbreviation RC for "Resistance Class". It describes how long a burglar needs, and with which tools, to force a door open. Whereas RC 2 is generally sufficient for private homes, the police recommend at least RC 3 for commercially used premises. This applies above all where valuable materials are stored, expensive machinery is kept or sensitive company records are held on computer hard drives. In general, an external door to a house, flat, cellar or garage is burglar-resistant if its overall construction of door leaf, lock, frame and hardware has no weak point.
The crossbar lock puts up resistance
A good example of additional door security is the crossbar lock, colloquially often referred to as a "Panzerriegel" (armoured bar). It secures a door - whether hinged on the left or the right - across its entire width. The bars on both sides engage in strike boxes that are firmly anchored in the masonry. The lock cylinder has pull protection and is thus protected against being removed or forced - either of which would otherwise clear the way for burglars. If the crossbar is part of a locking system, the lock cylinder is manufactured to match. Crossbar locks are suitable for all doors made of timber, uPVC or metal and, with the appropriate accessories, are also suitable for outward-opening doors. They are operated from both inside and outside with a key. This is how security is created.
Public funding offers opportunities
Anyone wishing to retrofit burglary protection can, incidentally, obtain low-interest loans for this from the KfW banking group and may hope for further public funds in the future. In May 2015 the budget committee of the German Bundestag approved the release of additional funds for burglary prevention. In Austria, the funding of burglary-protection measures varies from province to province. Lower Austria, for example, subsidises alarm systems or security doors with a direct grant of 1,000 and 1,500 euros respectively. The capital, Vienna, subsidises the installation of security doors with a 20-per-cent grant - but no more than 400 euros per door leaf. Upper Austria likewise subsidises alarm systems with a 30-per-cent investment grant - but no more than 1,000 euros. Burgenland proceeds in a comparable way for alarm systems and security doors. In other provinces there were various forms of support, above all in the years 2010 to 2012. But it is always worth enquiring with the responsible offices of the provincial governments about the current status of funding for burglary protection.
