Last updated on June 4th, 2018
During the summer months a widely overlooked security vulnerability in the home is something that is hiding in plain sight — and especially noticeable to a burglar.
One potentially easy way that a burglar may gain access to your home is through the window after pushing in the window air-conditioner on the 1st-floor.
When the weather warms up, the window air-conditioners are installed. How many of you have at least one window air-conditioner on the 1st floor of your home?
(UPDATED FOR 2018)
Have you ever thought about how easy it might be for a burglar to push/force in a window air-conditioner unit and gain entry to your home when you’re away?
Here’s what you can do about it:
Most window air-conditioners are simply installed and held in place by gravity, tucked behind the window sash which keeps them from falling out – maybe with a few small screws holding the accordion side-panels in place. That’s it.
Many people don’t even install a single support screw into the window sash itself because the air conditioner holds itself in place by gravity and its downward force against the window sash.
So, what can you do to better secure your window air-conditioner?
Window Air Conditioner Security Bars
A convenient window lock for air conditioner security:
This adjustable security bar is designed to fit between the window and the top frame to prevent it from opening when an A/C is installed. It fits into that relatively short gap. My own air conditioner happens to leave a gap of 8-1/2″ inches when it’s installed.
This one adjusts from 7-1/2″ to 14″ in length and is made in the USA:
Air-Conditioner Security Window Lock Wedge
Secure the top mounting rail into the window sash
At least install a screw through the air-conditioner’s top mounting rail into the window sash. Most window air conditioners include a drilled-out hole in the top center to accommodate this.
Consider drilling additional holes through the same top mounting rail to accommodate more screws into the lower window sash (see illustration below).
Install window frame locks
(Sliding Window Lock, Window Stop, Window Restrictor)
To prevent the burglar from pushing and forcing up the window to reach in underneath and shove the air conditioner (even with the A/C unit attached and screwed to the sash – although difficult), install window frame locks which prevent this motion…
Window Lock
Depending on the style of your window, you might consider something like this:
Check it out: Vinyl Window Lock
‘Do It Yourself’ Window Security Bar:
While the air conditioner is mounted in the window, measure the distance from top of the lower window frame to the very top of the double-hung frame itself (with A/C installed). Cut a wooden dowel to snugly fit – which can be wedged to prohibit the window from opening further…
Window Wedge
Another clever idea is a window wedge, if your window accommodates it:
Check it out: Window Wedge
The “Windobully” is also highly popular:
Check it out: Windobully Window Lock
Stick-on Window Alarm
Here’s a great product that will absolutely deter a would-be burglar. The second they begin to force open the window, this cleverly designed window-alarm will alert (based on motion/vibration sensing). It simply ‘sticks’ onto the window, inside. It has an ‘off’ switch for your convenience when opening the window yourself…
DOBERMAN SECURITY Ultra-Slim Window Alarm
Stick-on Burglar Alarm Security Window Sticker Decal
Deterrence! On the window with the air conditioner, install a burglar alarm window decal on a window panel where it will be plainly visible. This alone may be enough to prevent a break-in as the burglar may move along to an easier target.
Security Alarm Stickers Indoor/Outdoor – Made in USA
The accordion side panels
Depending on the width of the window air conditioner, the ‘accordion’ side panels may be extended fairly wide, or maybe not. This is an obvious weak point of entry for a burglar to punch through and gain leverage to shoving the air conditioner itself.
While the aforementioned suggestions will slow down or deter a burglar (likely to the extent of giving up without attracting attention), you might consider to (do it yourself) build wooden side panels to replace the plastic ‘accordion’ panels.
Ultimately, you are not going to stop a determined burglar, but you will probably stop the majority of amateur burglars who are looking for quick and easy entry. If one of them happens to pick your home because they see a window air-conditioner hanging out of a 1st-floor window, when given a hard push and it doesn’t budge, they will probably move on.
If the burglar pulls or pushes on the air conditioner while attempting to lift the window sash, it will not readily come if you’ve taken the precautions mentioned above.
Tip: Consider removing any 1st-floor window air-conditioners when going on an extended vacation. A few minutes effort may be worth it…
Tip: I really like the ‘stick on’ alarm mentioned above. No matter what the burglar does, it will sound the alarm, likely stopping the break-in attempt.
More: 3 Ways A Burglar Breaks In, 80 Percent Of The Time
Mine is screw mounted. A burglar would cause a lot of noise breaking my window. My dogs would be barking at him to donate blood as soon as he gets inside.
You could plant thorny bushes… rose bushes, blackberry bushes etc. just below your windows… I don’t think they would be interested in struggling with thorns, air conditioners and the like to get in…
unless they really want in… and if they REALLY want in?
This makes me think of sliding glass doors.. take a stick, almost the length of the track and lay it down in the track with the door closed. Even if they get the door open – the stick will still stop them from opening it the whole way… If the thief really wants in – they will break the glass… if they are just shopping door to door, and they can’t get yours open quickly… hopefully they will move along.
Having pushed the AC out of the window myself (locked out) I can say it took all of 30 seconds. Now I put a dowel so the window can’t be pushed and a couple of screw type hooks so that it can’t be pushed forward.
The slider – I had a friend many years ago drill 2 holes spaced apart and I put a nail through and it anchors the door. You have to be careful and drill at the top and not through the glass! Drill clear through the top and into the track.
I did all the same things you did but also added an additional measure. I put four heavy/long wood screws into the framing then several layers of a decent gauge wire across the inside portion of the AC.
The screws are covered by a window sash. The wire can be seen but I don’t care about looks. Not foolproof but with the other measures in place it would take a burglar a little longer and a lot more work to get in. This would also give more warning for me to fully armed and ready to rock and roll.
I have a small high window that got broken, put the A/C in there, perfect width (threw the accordion side thingys away!) and built it into the window with lumber and plywood. I would have a heck of a time (probably have to rip out and rebuild the whole thing!) if I ever needed to replace the A/C!
I don’t plant thorny things next to the house, invites bugs, rodents etc. I keep it very clear, I will see you, there is nothing to hide behind next to the house. You will also not find a way in short of breaking the window or kicking down the door, and boy will that set off the barking!
aka…You can also just drill through both sides of the track, put a nail in and the door will still slide but will stop at that point!
Thanks, good idea and no worry about drilling into the glass. My friend drilled 2 holes – one at either end and I think that a smart person could get to the first one but not the 2nd.
Oh, also looking back, I think that I wanted o be able to leave the slider open a few inches for the cat when I went on vacation.
Our window units are upstairs at the backside of the house. In an urban area about 20 miles away, thieves are stealing the ac units.
location location location 1st and foremost if you have opsec that is that bad you best get moving. Remember living in Lewisville, Texas (North Dallas Suburb) in the 90s we had 2 subdivisions one had greenspace very few backyard fences the other had wall to wall backyard fences, the perps prayed on the one with high fences as they hid their home shopping efforts, in which they must have laughed at the great efforts home owners put into security doors and barred windows, their trick was to take a large rock or concrete block wrapped in a moving blanket or sleeping bag and heave it through the sliding glass back door and were in the house in a flash. The thought here should be situational awarness overall not just one aspect. In my law enforcement experience (never came across a incident of a entry by removing a AC unit) was the perps look for easy, FAST, entry ands pushing or removing any window air conditioner is not as easy as it sounds.
How do you keep them from stealing the air conditioning window unit itself?
They took both of my air conditioners!!!! Got in through the back window and walked in through the window and took the 2nd one. My brother put dowels to keep the windows from opening. Hope that works.
We had a burglary when on vacation via the window air conditioner. Now I have replaced the side curtains with plywood and between the sash and jamb.
To prevent theft of the window AC unit and slow down a thief’s access you can buy some welded wire, wire cutter and a set of rabbit cage clips/applier. You can custom build a wire box and side wings to cover the AC unit and with screws all around make that window very hard to access.
For SHTF preps having welded wire (I prefer 1″ x 2″ myself) and an easy way to cover the window glass is a quick way to harden the softest part of your home.
I don’t have a window air conditioner but I do have a large box fan in the back window to put the air thru the house at night and bring cool air in the bedroom windows. Sometimes we are lazy and don’t close and lock the window after turning it off during the day. Or since it is on the other side of the house it would be an easy entry to cut thru the screen and remove the fan and get in at night or during the day. Thanks for the heads up.
Theft in Memphis is so bad that they have steel cages over window units, bolted to the walls, AND over central air units bolted to the concrete
Central a/c system— problem solved
Or a mini split system
While a Mini-Split system is very energy efficient and will save you money over a AC unit of similar abilities they are PRICEY. Some of us are Fixed Income or otherwise struggling and often live where rent is cheap and theft is an issue.
Thus a simple homemade wire cage to protect the home and the unit from theft. After you move from that rental two good dabs of paint per screw hole and an overall paint touch up would work.
Not all of us are Gander Mountain preppers, some of us have to shop at Wal-Mart. 🙂 In fact I have sent many of my newbie preppers to Wal-Mart with a shopping list.