I just had a great e-mail from Chris, a former construction worker, who pointed out just how safe classic double-hung windows are (i.e., not safe). He tells me how workers get inadvertently locked out of job sites on a regular basis, and how they manage to get in. Barring less invasive methods, such as tele-transporting through the wall, they would jimmy their way in through the window. Despite my never-ending crusade against casement windows (flimsy, prone to breaking, etc.), Chris points out that casement windows are very difficult to break into. He didn't go into more detail about this, but I venture that it has something to do with the fact that casement locks are hook-shaped. Not only that, but these hooks are embedded within the frame, making them untouchable.
But double-hung windows? A piece of cake, he says. It is just a matter of slipping a slim prybar under the sash and lifting. The typically lousy manufacturer-provided sash lock either breaks off or, more likely, the short screws pull right out of the wood. Then, Chris says, once he is inside it's just a matter of re-installing the sash lock with thicker screws or moving it slightly to the side. Done! All without breaking a sweat.
Image of Casement Windows (c) Lee Wallender, Licensed to About.com
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