Written By: Brad Campbell | May 25, 2025
According to the Department of Justice, nearly a third of burglaries occur in non-residential locations, including retail stores, offices, and other commercial properties, with commercial forced entry and theft on the rise in major U.S. cities from coast to coast.
To combat these threats, business owners must take proactive steps to implement security measures that protect their assets, employees, and customers alike.
The most vulnerable points in any building are its commercial storefront doors and windows, including glass entryway doors and display windows — they’re the Achilles heel of buildings.
Criminals often gain entry to a business or commercial facility by exploiting weak or unsecured glass, making it crucial to reinforce these potential entry points to deter forced entry, theft, and property damage.
Storefront doors serve multiple functions, from providing access to customers and employees to boosting the curb appeal of businesses and office buildings.
For example, in retail settings, glass storefront doors create a welcoming entrance, encouraging foot traffic and showcasing a store’s interior.
However, beyond aesthetics, storefront doors must also be secure enough to withstand forced entry attempts, severe weather, and daily use.
Business owners need to strike a balance between visibility and security, ensuring that storefront doors remain inviting while offering strong physical protection.
Like doors, commercial storefront windows play an essential role in a business’s overall appeal and functionality.
For instance, large glass windows help retail businesses display products, allow natural light into the space, and create an open, inviting atmosphere for shopping. However, unprotected storefront windows are also a prime target for criminals.
Smash-and-grab thieves often break through standard tempered storefront glass in seconds, stealing valuable merchandise before authorities arrive. This is why reinforcing your commercial storefront windows is just as critical as securing your glass entryway doors.
The majority of commercial burglaries and thefts occur through doors and windows that are easily breached. Criminals look for weak points in storefronts, such as standard glass doors or unprotected windows, and take advantage of these vulnerabilities.
Some of the most common methods burglars use to gain entry include:
While alarms and surveillance cameras are useful deterrents, they do nothing to physically prevent a break-in. Thieves know they have a few minutes before authorities arrive, so their goal is to get in, steal valuables, and escape quickly — they’ll even do it in broad daylight!
The most effective way to prevent break-ins, burglaries, and smash-and-grabs is by reinforcing commercial storefront doors and windows with impact-resistant, forced entry-grade security glazing solutions.
Retrofitting stronger materials over existing commercial window and door glass creates a formidable barrier that prevents criminals from gaining easy access.
When it comes to securing storefront windows and doors, businesses need a solution that provides maximum protection against forced entry without compromising the visibility and functionality of storefront glass.
For the highest level of protection, retrofittable polycarbonate glazing shields like AP-Series 25 provide a nearly unbreakable barrier against intrusions.
AP25 is a forced entry-resistant, retrofittable polycarbonate shield designed to withstand repeated attacks without cracking or dislodging. It retains the appearance of glass while offering superior security, effectively stopping break-ins and smash-and-grab attempts and ensuring businesses stay protected without sacrificing visibility or curb appeal.
With AP25, commercial properties get the strongest, most reliable glass defense for their storefronts. Its unique formulation ensures it outperforms other types of security glass, offering long-term safety and peace of mind even under extreme threat conditions.
For businesses in high-risk industries, investing in bullet-resistant security glass can provide additional security and reassurance.
Some examples of businesses that can benefit from ballistic-grade storefront protection include:
Bullet-resistant Riot Glass offers both ballistic and forced entry protection, ensuring that criminals can’t breach your storefront windows and doors.
Thanks to rigorous testing, including ASTM F3561 standard testing, you can rest assured that Riot Glass will remain a barrier to unauthorized entry, even if struck by multiple bullets.
The most vulnerable parts of any commercial property are its storefront doors and windows. That’s why all business owners should take steps to reinforce these entry points with impact-resistant materials that deter criminals, prevent forced entry, and protect assets and people.
Whether you choose forced entry-grade or ballistic-grade glazing, investing in storefront security is a critical step in preventing property damage and theft and ensuring business continuity.
Protect your business today! Contact us to learn how we can help reinforce your commercial storefront windows and doors for maximum security and peace of mind for years to come.
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