Patio Door Locks, Anyone Seen Them?

[giddyup]

The GF is becoming increasingly paranoid about break-ins and wants me to get a full alarm system at a cost of about 30,000 baht. A system for that price has every window and door alarmed and internal motion detectors. I was thinking more along the lines of security bars on all the windows and perhaps just a motion sensor inside. I don't want to put those hideous sliding grilles on the front and back patio doors but haven't been able to find strong locks for that type of door. One of the most effective and cheapest way to protect patio doors is to drill through both upright frames (not all the way through) when they are closed and then just insert a big nail. It makes the doors virtually impossible to open. However, I can't do that because there is a sliding insect screen door on the inside track that covers the uprights of the door frames. Has anyone seen patio door locks?

[GentlemanJim]

I have some big patio doors and it was a problem. The doors would be easy to force open. One thing I did was to but a hook well into the wall behind the curtains, then simply bought a piece of heavy link chain cut to the right length (was 20 inch for me) and then looped it around the handle and over the hook on the wall. Easy to take off from inside, can't be seen as its behind the curtains, and there is no way you are opening the door from the outside........unless.....you come in through the glass! Then your motion detector would be good. I think Thais feel very insecure without all the metal grills and sliding steel doors. I just hate to think how many people have died in house fires trapped behind metal grills over windows. We have a lot of large windows and I have gone for layered security. A poodle that likes to live outside and yaps at anyone that walks around the house. A retriever lives inside with a big deep bark (so early warning is taken care of and they cant poison the dog indoors), windows with easy move chains as discussed. Motion detectors down stairs (obviously not where the dog is), and some areas upstairs and a 9mm in the bedside table. The determine 'pro' burglar could still get in and do us over if they wanted to but it would be a bit of a problem for them and the wife is happy now. We are at least safe from the thug who may want to steal something for his next hit of yabba, but pro thieves are a different story. Good luck!

Edited to add of all the things I was happy with, with adding security it was the chains on the windows looped through the handles. Cheap as well from the local hard ware store.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Just get the standard pull-down steel door shutters.

[giddyup]

I have some big patio doors and it was a problem. The doors would be easy to force open. One thing I did was to but a hook well into the wall behind the curtains, then simply bought a piece of heavy link chain cut to the right length (was 20 inch for me) and then looped it around the handle and over the hook on the wall. Easy to take off from inside, can't be seen as its behind the curtains, and there is no way you are opening the door from the outside........unless.....you come in through the glass! Then your motion detector would be good. I think Thais feel very insecure without all the metal grills and sliding steel doors. I just hate to think how many people have died in house fires trapped behind metal grills over windows. We have a lot of large windows and I have gone for layered security. A poodle that likes to live outside and yaps at anyone that walks around the house. A retriever lives inside with a big deep bark (so early warning is taken care of and they cant poison the dog indoors), windows with easy move chains as discussed. Motion detectors down stairs (obviously not where the dog is), and some areas upstairs and a 9mm in the bedside table. The determine 'pro' burglar could still get in and do us over if they wanted to but it would be a bit of a problem for them and the wife is happy now. We are at least safe from the thug who may want to steal something for his next hit of yabba, but pro thieves are a different story. Good luck!

Edited to add of all the things I was happy with, with adding security it was the chains on the windows looped through the handles. Cheap as well from the local hard ware store.

That would be a great idea, except my sliding doors don't have handles, only recessed door grips. Nothing to loop a chain around.

[giddyup]

Just get the standard pull-down steel door shutters.

Good idea except an air conditioner inlet is directly above the rear doors, nowhere to fit that big box that the roller shutters have.

[lopburi3]

For sliding patio doors on fixed glass side panels the best lock is still a broom handle placed on the inside track when door is closed as it prevents movement or removal from outside but is easy and cheap. For double slide suspect this simple lock system would work well.

http://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DYnL8-vhrfNg&rct=j&sa=X&ei=OYioT5-KNIHSrQf9_fXRAQ&ved=0CJgBELgCMAA&q=broom+handle+door+locks&usg=AFQjCNH4nf1hfG9xtFsWSszJ1TkOMHHNnA

[giddyup]

For sliding patio doors on fixed glass side panels the best lock is still a broom handle placed on the inside track when door is closed as it prevents movement or removal from outside but is easy and cheap.

That works with most sliding doors in Australia, but not here. The door that slides to allow access is actually on the outside track, which means the broomstick would be on the outside. I'm pretty sure all the sliding door and window tracks in the entire villiage have been installed the wrong way around. It means that all the sliding insect screens are on the inside track, when in fact it is normal to have them on the outside, but try explaining that to the Thais. I might add that the doors are not fixed panel, but both doors slide.

[honoluludave]

Locks only keep honest people honest. That said I have two suggestions for you. Got the door look for my house from a place called Ubon Wattsudo in Ubon Ratchatani. I have sliding wooden doors so not sure if that will help you. The other idea is to put a hasp on both doors and use a padlock

[Darrel]

If I was determined to get through a locked patio door I would just smash the glass.

[giddyup]

If I was determined to get through a locked patio door I would just smash the glass.

Well of course, but then you take the risk of alerting neighbours or seriously cutting yourself. Nothing is foolproof, all you can do is not make it easy for them.

[astral]

Unfortunately patio doors in Thailand are not designed with security in mind.

You probably need a steel grill as well, either on the inside or outside.

[apetley]

Decent alarm systems can be got alot cheaper than 30 k bht. Have a look on eBay for a few ideas.

After a burglary we fitted bars to the windows at a cost of 1500 bht for each 2x1 metre window. I hated the idea of window bars but slowly got used to them. Roller doors went on the front, back and patio doors.

As an aside a Thai got burgled elsewhere in the village. The thief couldn't get in through the doors, windows or roof so used an angle grinder to cut his way through the wall!!!!

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[nocturn]

For sliding patio doors on fixed glass side panels the best lock is still a broom handle placed on the inside track when door is closed as it prevents movement or removal from outside but is easy and cheap. For double slide suspect this simple lock system would work well.

http://www.google.co...WSszJ1TkOMHHNnA

yep, broom handle aor any piece of wood between the slider and the wall

[Darrel]

....but then you take the risk of alerting neighbours or seriously cutting yourself.

Does the average yaba addict care?

[giddyup]

Something like this would do the trick. Anyone know where these can be bought?

[cmsally]

You can get locks that fit onto the track of the sliding doors on the inside. it effectively blocks the track for sliding when locked. You unlock from the inside when you want to open the door. If you were breaking in and had both the ordinary lock and these, you would pretty much need to break the glass.

PS Got mine from Global House

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Good idea except an air conditioner inlet is directly above the rear doors, nowhere to fit that big box that the roller shutters have.

Don't be a cheap charlie, easy to move, maybe B1,000 at the high end.

Personally I hate the atmosphere in room with bars over the windows. . .

[giddyup]

Good idea except an air conditioner inlet is directly above the rear doors, nowhere to fit that big box that the roller shutters have.

Don't be a cheap charlie, easy to move, maybe B1,000 at the high end.

Personally I hate the atmosphere in room with bars over the windows. . .

Nothing to do with being cheap, there's just nowhere else the aircon inlet can fit except over the back door. No point in putting security on the front and back doors if you're not going to do the windows. If you have a sensible alternative to security screens, please advise.

[giddyup]

You can get locks that fit onto the track of the sliding doors on the inside. it effectively blocks the track for sliding when locked. You unlock from the inside when you want to open the door. If you were breaking in and had both the ordinary lock and these, you would pretty much need to break the glass.

PS Got mine from Global House

As I explained earlier, both doors slide, there's no fixed panel, so that would mean one of the track locks would actually be on the outside. Where is Global House?

[astral]

Something like this would do the trick. Anyone know where these can be bought?

Plenty of metalwork shops around that will make them to order.

Ask your neighbours.