Improving Glass Security for Bars Without Hurting Curb Appeal

High concentrations of cash and liquor stored in one place can make any bar an attractive target to thieves. Add to that the fact that many bars feature lots of exposed glass windows and doors, and these establishments are even more tempting for criminals.

A bar’s storefront glass also helps attract clientele, lets natural light in, and provides views of the outdoors, and most bar owners don’t want to compromise all of that by installing unsightly window bars or grates.

Fortunately, improving glass security for bars can be done with security glazing solutions that preserve curb appeal, natural light transmission, and visibility.

The Importance of Better Glass Security for Bars

Forced entry and burglary are constant concerns for bar owners, and in most cases a break-in starts at the business’s glass. A standard commercial glass door or window often offers the quickest way into the building, and it requires no special skill or equipment to defeat. Better glass security for bars starts with reinforcing vulnerable glass against impacts.

When criminals force entry into a bar, the tactics are typically low-tech. A thief picks up a rock or brick from the street, smashes out a window or glass panel of a door, and steps inside within seconds. Once in, a crowbar or similar hand tool is used on cash registers, safes, and office doors. The whole sequence of events can be over before an alarm company or law enforcement sends someone to respond.

Why Is Better Glass Security for Bars Necessary?

Bars are everywhere, and they can be victims of forced entry and theft no matter their location. A few key factors make bars an appealing target:

• Cash is part of daily operations at most bars: Many still take in a significant share of their sales as cash and tips. At close, that money often stays on the premises overnight, in a register, a drawer, or a safe in the back office.
• Liquor is another draw: Top-shelf bottles are compact, easy to carry, and easy to resell, which makes a smash-and-grab at a bar worthwhile even if the register is empty. A thief who knows what is on the back bar can grab a handful of premium bottles and leave in under a minute.
• The hours also work against bar owners: Bars close late, the surrounding blocks are often quiet by the time staff leave, and the building sits empty for the rest of the night. A burglar looking for a window of opportunity has plenty of them.

Why a Bar’s Storefront Glass Is the Weak Point

Standard commercial glass is designed to let light through and keep weather out. It’s not designed to withstand a deliberate attack. When struck with a brick, a bat, or a hammer, it can instantly shatter and fall away, leaving an opening large enough to climb through, or at the very least allowing an intruder to reach through and open a door from the inside.

Bars tend to have more of this glass than other businesses. Large front windows, glass entry doors, side windows, and sometimes glass transoms above the door all add up to a lot of surface area that can be attacked.

Traditional fixes come with trade-offs. Permanent window bars or grates make a building look uninviting, and they block the view in and out. For a bar, where atmosphere is part of the product, that is a hard sacrifice to accept. Owners who want real protection and an inviting storefront need another option.

Improving Glass Security for Bars With Retrofit Security Glazing

Retrofit security glazing like Riot Glass is designed for exactly this situation. It can be installed right on top of existing bar windows and doors, adding a layer that protects the glass behind from impacts and forced entry attempts. The storefront preserves its appearance, and the glass gains a whole new level of protection against impacts.

Riot Glass is available in two types:

1. Full polycarbonate AP-Series glazing features virtually unbreakable polycarbonate panels built to resist impacts of all types. It is a good fit where maximum resistance to hand tools and thrown objects is the priority.
2. Glass-clad polycarbonate RG-Series glazing pairs a polycarbonate interior layer with an exterior glass surface, so it looks and feels exactly like glass on the outside, because it is. The polycarbonate on the inside is virtually unbreakable, but the outer glass can crack and spall with enough force.

Both options can be retrofitted over existing windows and doors to improve glass security for bars, though full polycarbonate solutions typically offer the most flexibility when it comes to retrofitting.

These bar security glass solutions are designed to fit into or on top of existing framing systems using retrofittable framing adapters. That means bar owners generally do not need to tear out and replace entire storefront glass systems.

The resulting protection is more cost-effective than full glass replacement, and installation is minimally disruptive to business operations, so a bar can stay on its normal schedule instead of closing for an extended renovation.

Riot Glass can also be used to replace existing glass when that makes more sense, such as when a pane is already cracked or damaged.

The Chicago Police have even recommended Riot Glass specifically for bars after a string of bar break-ins across the city. When a police department points owners toward a product in response to a pattern of break-ins, you can be confident that it offers a real solution to a real problem.

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Benefits of Riot Glass for Bars:

• Looks and feels like standard commercial glass
• Preserves curb appeal, natural light, and views
• Resists common burglary and smash-and-grab tactics using hand tools like bats, crowbars, and hammers, as well as readily available objects like bricks and stones, which can shatter a standard commercial glass door or window in seconds
• Cost-effective, since it can usually be retrofitted without removing and replacing existing glass
• May help reduce insurance premiums
• For bars that have been repeat targets of forced entry, stops the cycle of broken windows, expensive and disruptive repairs, and repeat losses
• Also protects against accidental impacts, vandalism, storm damage, and rioting and looting

Where To Start Upgrading Your Bar’s Glass Security

When you want to improve glass security for a bar, the best way to plan upgrades is to walk the building the way a burglar would. Start at the front, then check the side and rear entrances, and look at every pane of glass that gives direct access to the interior.

Prioritize reinforcing the openings closest to what a thief wants. Glass near the bar, the register area, the office, and the liquor storage deserves the most attention, because a break-in there gives the fastest smash-and-grab route to cash and bottles. Glass in low-visibility spots, such as alley doors and side windows, comes next, since those are the places where someone can work without being seen.

It also helps to look at the history of the building. If the bar has had a break-in or attempted break-in before, the damaged opening is a good place to begin. Repeat targeting is common, and a location that has been hit once may be more likely to get hit again.

Finally, consider how the bar’s security glazing will be paired with other security measures. Alarms, lighting, cameras, and good cash-handling habits all contribute, and security glazing works alongside them. 

The advantage of the bar security glass itself is that it slows or stops an attack at the first point of contact, instead of relying on something or someone to react after the window is already gone.

Contact Riot Glass to discuss commercial security glazing for bars.

FAQs on Glass Security for Bars

What is glass security for bars?

It refers to upgrading a bar’s windows and doors so they resist smash-and-grab attacks and forced entry. Retrofitting security glazing is one of the most common ways to do this without covering the storefront.

Can I improve glass security for my bar without installing window bars?

Yes. Retrofit security glazing adds protection to existing windows and doors while keeping the look of regular glass, so the storefront stays open and inviting.

Do I have to replace my bar’s existing windows and doors to boost security?

No, not usually. Riot Glass can typically be installed over existing glass, fitting into existing framing using retrofittable framing adapters, which keeps costs and disruption down.

What is the difference between full polycarbonate and glass-clad polycarbonate security glazing for bar windows and doors?

Full polycarbonate is a solid polycarbonate panel. Glass-clad polycarbonate adds a glass surface to the exterior. Both offer very high levels of forced entry and burglary resistance.

Will better glass security for bars affect my insurance?

It may help reduce premiums. Check with your insurance provider to see what applies to your policy.

Does security glazing protect bars against more than break-ins?

Yes. It also protects bar windows and doors against accidental impacts, vandalism, storm damage, and rioting and looting.