Window Security in San Francisco

Any property is only as strong as its weakest point, which is almost always an unprotected window or door.

When it comes to window security in San Francisco, there are concrete steps you can take to reinforce vulnerable windows and doors to protect against a range of common security threats.

Riot Glass LLC has years of experience helping businesses across the country harden their properties’ security using our top-of-the-line security glazing products. 

As industry leaders, we make a point of providing you with actionable information regarding window security best practices, as you’ll find below.

What Are the Main Window Security Threats?

When we talk about window security, the threats we most frequently refer to are:

• Forced entry
• Burglary
• Smash-and-grab theft
• Rioting and looting
• Vandalism

Forced entry

Forced entry refers to any attempt to gain access to a property through forcible means, typically unlawfully. More often than not, intruders force entry by breaking a window to open a door from the inside or climb through the window itself.

Forced entry is most commonly associated with different types of theft, but criminals also sometimes force entry to commit more serious, violent crimes. Active shooters often forcibly gain entry to facilities to cause harm to others, as an example.

Burglary

Burglary is a type of forced entry in which the intruders gain unlawful access to a property with the primary goal of theft.

Considering that there are approximately 2.5 million burglaries in the US every year, this is the number one threat that property owners typically want to protect against in terms of window security.

Smash-and-grab theft

Smash-and-grab theft is a form of retail theft in which one or more individuals smash a barrier, such as a glass storefront or display case, in order to grab merchandise and run off with it. 

Unlike traditional break-and-enter burglaries, which criminals usually try to get away with quietly in the middle of the night, smash-and-grab thieves typically have little to no regard for making noise or setting off alarms.

In recent times, we’ve seen an uptick in a type of smash-and-grab theft known as “flash mobs.” Flash mobs consist of large groups of coordinated criminals, sometimes dozens, who descend on unsuspecting retail businesses in organized attacks. 

These thieves use heavy hand tools, such as hammers and pry bars, to smash windows and display cases, grab as much merchandise as they can, and flee to various getaway vehicles parked outside.

Rioting and looting

Rioting and looting can happen anywhere when civil unrest flares up. While most protests in the US remain peaceful, they do have the potential to turn violent, which is when angry mobs start to damage businesses and other properties. Criminals take advantage of this chaos to force entry and commit theft, known as looting.

The most common response to rioting and looting is for business owners to board up their doors and windows using plywood, but there’s not always enough warning to do this in time. This is why all commercial building owners should find alternatives to boarding up windows for security.

Vandalism

Vandalism is any act that involves deliberate damage or destruction of private or public property. While not as serious of a threat as forced entry, burglary, and other types of theft, vandalism still has the potential to cause major financial loss, especially if you have to replace lots of broken windows.

Window Security the Riot Glass Way

At Riot Glass LLC, we’re experts in protecting properties against all of the security threats mentioned above. 

We design and manufacture two main types of retrofit security glazing: Riot Glass® RG series laminated security glass and ArmorPlast® AP series polycarbonate security glazing. 

Both of these series of security glazing are similar in that they are designed to be retrofitted into or onto your existing door and window framing systems, typically without needing to remove or replace the existing glass.

Riot Glass® and ArmorPlast® both create a virtually invisible barrier over your existing glass to protect it from impacts and prevent it from breaking or allowing forced entry of any type.

While they have many of the same use cases, the key difference between ArmorPlast® and Riot Glass® is in their composition.

Riot Glass® consists of one or more layers of strengthened security glass with a thermoplastic interlayer laminated between each glass surface. ArmorPlast®, on the other hand, does not contain any glass at all. It is composed primarily of polycarbonate, a type of extremely robust thermoplastic.

ArmorPlast® and Riot Glass® are both capable of keeping the bad guys out of your property and can even achieve UL 752 ballistic resistance ratings, but the virtually unbreakable strength of polycarbonate makes ArmorPlast® a superior solution for most applications.

Let’s look at AP25, our flagship ArmorPlast® product, as an example:

AP25 is a containment-grade glazing shield, meaning that it won’t stop bullets. But, even when riddled with bullets, AP25 won’t break apart or significantly diminish in strength — this is how robust polycarbonate is.

Because of these characteristics, we recommend AP25 as the go-to window security solution for businesses and commercial facilities of all types. It’s ideal for protecting your property against forced entry, burglary, smash-and-grab theft, rioting and looting, vandalism, and more.

Types of facilities we protect with our security glazing solutions include:

• High-end retail stores
• Government buildings
• Religious facilities
• Schools
• Hospitality businesses
• Office buildings
• Hospitals

Our retrofit security glazing is far superior to traditional window and door security solutions, such as bars, grilles, grates, shutters, and board ups, because it does not noticeably change the appearance of your property, hurt its curb appeal, block out natural light, or reduce visibility.

In other words, we fortify your property, without making it look fortified.

Window Security in San Francisco: Tips from Local Law Enforcement

For general tips on protecting your business from crime, it’s always a good idea to look at recommendations from local law enforcement and government organizations. 

According to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), there was an uptick in burglaries during the pandemic. Here are some suggestions for improving window security from SF SAFE to ensure your property is well protected against forced entry and burglary.

Install surveillance cameras facing vulnerable windows

If you don’t already have security cameras, consider installing them facing all potential points of entry, especially vulnerable windows. SF SAFE also recommends pointing at least one camera away from the front of your property, facing the street.

These cameras will act as strong deterrents to burglary, as well as capture criminal activity to aid in capture and prosecution, if needed.

Reinforce glass on garage doors

Many business owners overlook their garage doors when making security upgrades to their properties, but it’s important to treat garage doors as any other point of entry.

If your garage doors have any glass panels, you can reinforce them with security window film, or even better, polycarbonate. To obscure the contents of your garage, consider using tinted or frosted window film.

Install exterior lights

Exterior lights that illuminate your property at night are another big deterrent to would-be burglars. Aim to have a mix of constant and motion-sensing lights for the most effective deterrent.

For example, you could install lights that remain on all night near key entrances, and strategically place motion-sensing flood lights in other areas where burglars might prowl around, such as side walkways. Make sure these lights are on and working during all hours of darkness.

Landscape vegetation away from windows

You might not think of landscaping as a way to secure your windows, but it definitely can be. Keep trees, bushes, and shrubs trimmed and away from windows, so they don’t provide a place for criminals to hide while attempting forced entry.

Contact us today for more information on how we can help you improve your window security in San Francisco.