New construction security options for windows and front doors

It was the same with my parents' house as described by . About 15 years ago, the police advice was that the bad guys wouldn’t break in through the glass anyway. Following their recommendation, the window mechanisms were simply upgraded back then with mushroom heads all around and lockable handles.

A few years ago, however, a break-in did happen through the glass. The scum smashed a hole in the glass and then twisted the bolt on the locked window handle above it to get in that way. Property damage plus stolen goods in the six-figure range, and my mother was extremely psychologically burdened.

Since then, everywhere RC3 windows with P6B armored glass (glass corresponds to RC4 windows) have been installed with 200Nm window handles. In addition, there is a burglar alarm system with connection and several exterior sirens (the exterior sirens mainly serve as a "better go to the neighbor" hint), 360° video surveillance around the house, and a video door intercom system with forwarding to the mobile phone.

What regularly stands in front of the house are suspicious characters, which no one would probably believe without videos by the way. We only found out about all of that thanks to the video surveillance and door intercom system. The funny thing is that most of these guys just sneak around the house and at some point the moment comes when their gaze visibly shifts upwards (to a video camera or one of the exterior sirens) and they then suddenly look for an escape rather quickly. The police also enjoyed the good video material for the report concerning attempted sneaky theft against the guy – probably not too bright – who thought he just had to check if any door was open somewhere.

Regarding the statements "They won’t get in through the glass anyway": That might have been true 10-15 years ago, but today, when many people have increasingly secure window frames, criminal behavior has also adapted accordingly. And thanks to quadruple glazing and comfort ventilation–cool in summer despite closed windows–low-energy houses, the neighbors no longer notice anything if someone breaks the glass at your place.

One should be aware that security essentially buys time. Time that a typical burglar needs to get into the house. As soon as it becomes noticeably more difficult, many abandon the plan. There is very illustrative video material about lifting windows. It takes less than 10 seconds. Of course, nothing can be generalized, but statistics can be used. When it comes to six-figure amounts in the house, one can almost assume that this was known through spying. Therefore, the entry with risk is especially worthwhile. In the context of procurement crime, windows are quickly smashed, and everything that might be good for the next hit is stolen and pawned. One can only reasonably cover the typical case. And there, lighting and mushroom bolts are already useful.

There won't be anything six-figure for me unless they take the whole kitchen.
If they manage that noise and mess, I'll hire them for the next move.

I think what is actually pointing out is the essential issue: what does it do to my psyche and emotional well-being if a break-in still happens, possibly even while someone was home.
You want to feel safe, after all.
Tangible assets are replaceable and are usually covered by some insurance.
But the feeling of security in your own home is hard to regain in case it happens.

I once had impression marks on the frame of the office entrance door that did not leave us alone. Eventually, I figured out that it was not an attempted break-in, but the keychain that one of us always left hanging on the door, which left these suspicious impression marks on the wood. The feeling of the possible break-in until then was not pleasant; by this I mean that an attempted break-in already feels bad. When crooks regularly try to break into a house as described, it is no longer an everyday situation as would be expected at a typical residential house. In this case, a deeper analysis should be carried out to find out why these people specifically want to get to this house or the person living in it. Bulletproof glass reduces the possibilities of an attack on the house; this can be sufficient in each case but can just as well motivate the attacker to find another way to reach their goal. Therefore, it is crucial to find out what exactly the particular target of each of these visitors is. Crooks do not become more well-behaved; crime just shifts location. Banks are no longer being robbed, cars are hardly stolen anymore, yet no fewer crimes are committed.

The hope for Saint Florian might sometimes be justified; ultimately, however, everyone hopes for themselves, and since my neighbor also takes measures to prevent a break-in, I would, in turn, be the potential victim of his activity. I can only repeat that everyone should make their own individual analysis of their situation; indiscriminate action out of fear only benefits the industry’s sales; the film "Bowling for Columbine" vividly describes a similar phenomenon. Of course, there is always a case or a worst-case scenario, but that is not the usual case. We once lived abroad for a while, where every house was fenced with metal, with cameras everywhere, security personnel, and alarm systems. Wherever you went, an alarm sounded—in the hardware store, underground garage, pedestrian zone—but no one cared anymore, no one noticed, only I found it extremely annoying. Everyone was always afraid above all, which I was not used to, and the fact was that this is a completely peaceful country compared to the neighboring countries. I think there are many shades of gray here between zero and one hundred. Always trying to protect oneself against every worst-case scenario requires strict discipline, costs a lot of money, and also freedom or joy of life. If other crooks with likely different goals were constantly and incessantly lurking around my house, I would move away or advise the person to do so. I could not live there because it would only be a matter of time before the crook no. 17 has the right idea on how to finally reach the goal—that is, into my house or to me or my family. Why should he wait until I am inside the house?

If criminals regularly want to break into a house as described, this is no longer an everyday situation as expected at a typical residential house. In this case, a deeper analysis should be carried out to understand why these people want to target this particular house or the person living there.
Bulletproof glass reduces the possibilities of an attack on the house, which may be sufficient in the respective case but can just as well motivate the attacker to look for another way to reach their goal.

That would also be my concern, that a burglary could turn into a robbery.
With six-figure sums, maybe not entirely unrealistic?

Just recalculated. For me, it even gets close to five figures if you count mobile items. Definitely only with new prices. The most valuable single item will be the heat pump, which is outside anyway. That quickly gets you into five figures, but I don’t think those get stolen often, with 130-150 kg weight and the installation. What do you have in the house if you reach six-figure values? Genuine art from popular artists?