When most people think about a break-in, they picture someone attacking the front door. In reality, experienced burglars are far more likely to head around the side of the house, into the backyard, or through any entrance that looks forgotten, flimsy, or regularly left unlocked.
The good news is that once you know which spots are commonly overlooked, it is straightforward to make them much harder to get through. In Rockingham and across Perth, four repeat offenders show up again and again in real-world burglary reports: laundry doors, rear sliding doors, the internal door between the house and the garage, and even small bathroom windows.
This article looks at why these areas are so attractive to intruders and what you can do to secure them properly, including how security doors and screens such as Alu-Gard security doors and Vision-Gard security doors can turn weak points into strong ones.
Why Burglars Love “Forgotten” Doors and Windows
Burglars tend to look for three things: privacy, weak points, and predictable habits.
Side paths and back gardens usually offer more privacy than a front porch. Fences, sheds, and tall plants hide a lot of what is going on behind a home. Once someone is in your backyard, they can often move around quite freely without being seen from the street.
Many secondary doors and windows were never designed or treated as serious security barriers. They might be older laundry doors with basic latches, original aluminium sliders with worn locks, or small bathroom windows that everyone assumes are too small to worry about.
Finally, burglars rely on routine behaviour. If you always leave the laundry door on the latch while the dog is outside, or you forget to lock the internal garage door because the roller door is shut, anyone who tests that handle has just found an easy path into your home.
Once you understand that mindset, it becomes easier to see why these overlooked doors and windows need the same level of attention as your front entry and why purpose-built security doors and screens are such a valuable upgrade.
Laundry Doors: The “Temporary” Entry That Becomes Permanent
In many Western Australian homes, the laundry opens directly to a side path or backyard. It is often used for quick trips to the clothesline, letting pets in and out, or taking out the rubbish. Because of that, it is also one of the most common doors to be left unlocked or only loosely latched.
Why laundry doors are vulnerable
Laundry doors are typically out of public view. A would-be intruder can test the handle or work on a flimsy lock without worrying too much about passing traffic. Older properties often still have lightweight timber or hollow-core laundry doors, which can be kicked in surprisingly quickly.
The hardware on laundry doors is often basic. A single knob set with a simple latch, a worn striker plate, or a low-grade deadbolt that has never been upgraded gives very little real resistance. If there is a pet door, that can introduce a further weak point, especially if it is big enough for someone to reach through to the main lock.
Most importantly, habit undermines security. It only takes one afternoon where the door is left open just for a minute while you go to the front of the house, or one night where you forget to lock it after hanging washing, for someone to take advantage.
How to secure your laundry door
The first step is to treat your laundry door as a genuine external entry. If it is hollow or obviously flimsy, consider upgrading to a solid-core or metal door that cannot be easily kicked in. It does not have to be ornate, but it should be robust enough to take a hit.
Next, look at the lock set. A quality deadlock or deadlatch with a strengthened strike plate fixed securely into the framing timber can dramatically improve the strength of this door. Make sure the lock is easy to operate so you are not tempted to leave the door on the latch out of convenience.
One of the most effective upgrades is to install a dedicated security door on the laundry entrance. A properly tested laundry security door, fitted with strong mesh, a rigid frame and a three-point locking system, allows you to leave the main door open for light, airflow and pet access while still having a serious barrier in place. Where privacy is not a concern and you want clear outward vision, Alu-Gard security doors, with their perforated aluminium screen, offer strength and excellent visibility. If your laundry faces a neighbour’s window or a shared path, Vision-Gard security doors provide privacy mesh that limits the view from outside while still letting you see out from inside.
Lighting is also important. Good sensor lighting alongside paths and near the laundry entry can make a big difference, as most intruders prefer darkness and quiet when they are testing doors and windows.
Rear Sliding Doors: Easy, Quiet, and Often Unlocked
Rear sliding doors are a favourite feature in Australian homes, opening living areas onto patios and back gardens. Unfortunately, they are also a favourite target for intruders, particularly when they are original to the house and have never been upgraded.
Why sliding doors attract intruders
The design of standard sliding doors can work against them. A single latch in the middle of the door is often the only thing securing it, and older latches can be easily jemmied or even popped by lifting the door in its track if there is enough play.
Compared to a front door, rear sliding doors are usually hidden from the street. High fences, pergolas, or patio blinds help with privacy for entertaining, but they also shield an intruder from view while they work on the lock or glass.
Relaxed habits play a role again. On warm evenings or during barbecues, many people leave sliders on the latch or even slightly open for airflow, assuming that a fenced yard is safe enough. That brief window of opportunity is exactly what an opportunistic burglar looks for.
Securing rear sliding doors properly
Modernising the locking system is an excellent first step. Upgrading to a high-quality, keyed lock with a strong keeper makes it much harder to force the door. Some systems use multiple locking points along the stile, spreading the force and resisting prying tools.
Anti-lift protection is essential. A professional can adjust the rollers and install anti-lift blocks in the head of the frame so that the panel cannot be lifted clear of the track, even if an intruder attempts to force it.
Adding a purpose-built security sliding door on the outside is one of the most effective ways to protect a rear entry. These sliding security doors use strong frames, heavy duty mesh and multi-point locks to create a robust barrier while still allowing light and airflow when the glass panel is open behind them. For many Rockingham homes, an Alu-Gard sliding security door is ideal here, providing strength and clear views to the backyard, while a Vision-Gard sliding security door suits homes that need extra privacy from neighbouring properties or laneways.
Do not forget the glass itself. Laminated safety glass can make it much harder and noisier to break through, buying you time and making the property less appealing to a quick, quiet intruder.
Finally, think about visibility at night. A simple motion-activated light near the rear slider can deter casual prowlers and make it clear that any movement on the patio will be noticeable.
Garage Internal Doors: When the Garage Becomes a Back Door
Many people think of the garage as a secure buffer zone. If the roller door is down, they feel the house is protected. In practice, once a burglar is inside the garage, the internal door to the house is often one of the weakest links.
How burglars use your garage against you
Getting into a garage can be easier than you might expect. Overhead doors can be forced, particularly if they are older or poorly maintained. Remotes are sometimes stolen from unlocked cars in the driveway or street and then used to open the garage without drawing attention.
Once inside, an intruder is usually completely hidden from neighbours and the street. They can spend several minutes inspecting the internal access door, listening for signs of activity and trying different approaches without being seen.
Unfortunately, the internal garage door is frequently treated like any other internal door. It may be hollow-core, with a basic passage set rather than a proper lock. In many homes it is also left unlocked out of habit, creating a direct, unprotected path from the garage into the main living areas.
Treating the garage door like an external entry
The most important step is to change how you think about this doorway. The internal door from the garage into your home should be treated as an external entry and, ideally, upgraded to the standard of a front or side security door.
That means a solid-core or fire-rated door leaf paired with a quality deadlatch or deadbolt that locks securely. In many homes, a self-locking style of hardware works well because the door is automatically secured each time it closes, removing the need to remember to lock it manually.
A door closer can also be a smart addition, particularly for busy households where people often forget to shut the door fully. This helps ensure that the door is not left ajar, which would undo all the benefits of a strong lock and frame.
It is worth reviewing where you keep garage remotes and spare keys. Avoid leaving them in obvious spots near windows or in unlocked vehicles. If you have a keypad for the garage door, choose a code that is not easy to guess and make sure family members know not to share it.
If you are planning broader home security improvements, consider whether you want the internal garage door included in an alarm system and whether you would benefit from upgrading that doorway to a full security door for added peace of mind. A matching Alu-Gard or Vision-Gard security door on this entry can tie in with your other external doors while delivering consistent strength and appearance.
Bathroom Windows: Small Openings, Big Risk
Bathroom windows rarely sit at the top of anyone’s security list. They are often small, frosted, and positioned higher on the wall. Many homeowners assume that these openings are too small or awkward to be worth a burglar’s effort.
Unfortunately, that assumption can create an opportunity.
Why bathrooms tempt burglars
Bathrooms are frequently left with a window partly open for ventilation, sometimes even when no one is home. The frosted glass gives privacy from neighbours, but that also means an intruder can linger nearby without being easily seen.
In older houses, bathroom windows can be set low enough for someone to reach if they are standing on a bin, outdoor chair, or air-conditioning unit. Even small awning or sliding windows can provide enough space for a determined person to reach through and manipulate latches or handles.
If the bathroom is internal or opens off a hallway, someone who climbs in may be able to move further into the home without immediately appearing at a main, street-facing window where a neighbour might notice.
Upgrading bathroom window security
The goal with bathroom windows is to balance privacy, ventilation, and safety.
Security screens or grilles are one of the most effective ways to protect these openings. Once installed, they allow you to leave the window open for fresh air without giving easy access. Because bathroom windows are usually small, a well-designed security window screen can be subtle from the outside while adding serious strength. Privacy-focused meshes similar to those used in Vision-Gard security doors can be especially useful for bathrooms, preserving privacy during the day while still letting light in.
Window hardware should also be checked. Old, flimsy latches can often be upgraded to more secure versions that pull the sash tightly against the frame and resist prying. Window restrictors that limit how far a sash can open without a key can also reduce risk while still allowing ventilation.
If you are renovating, it is worth talking to your installer about security from the start. Choosing window styles, glass types and compatible security doors and screens for other openings as part of a single plan makes it easier to achieve both comfort and protection throughout the home.
Why Choose Rockingham Home Security for Your Security Doors and Screens
Securing these overlooked entry points is much easier when you have a local specialist who understands both the products and the way Rockingham homes are built and lived in. Rockingham Home Security focuses on tailored solutions rather than one-size-fits-all hardware, taking into account how you actually use your laundry, sliders, garage entry and bathrooms.
The team can recommend the right style of security doors for each opening, whether that is Alu-Gard security doors where you want strength and clear views, or Vision-Gard security doors where privacy from neighbours and passers-by is just as important as security. Matching security window screens can be designed to suit smaller openings such as bathroom windows and side sliders, creating a consistent, attractive look across the whole home.
Because Rockingham Home Security works in a coastal environment every day, they know which materials and finishes stand up best to sea air, wind and sun. Professional installation ensures locks, hinges and frames all perform as they should, so you get the full benefit of the products you invest in.
Building a Habit of Whole-Home Security
Locking the front door is important, but it is only one part of keeping your home secure. Burglars thrive on the assumption that no one would come in that way and on patterns such as always leaving one particular door on the latch.
A simple habit of walking around your home occasionally, inside and out, with an intruder’s eyes can be revealing. Look at your laundry door and consider whether it deserves the same grade of security door and lock as your front entry. Test the rear slider and decide whether a modern sliding security door could give you airflow without risk. Try the internal garage door and ask whether you would feel comfortable relying on it if someone did manage to get into the garage. Notice whether bathroom windows are regularly left open when you are out.
Securing these overlooked entry points does not have to be complicated or expensive. In many cases, a combination of better locks, modern security doors and window screens, modest hardware upgrades, and improved lighting will dramatically reduce your risk and improve your peace of mind.
If you would like personalised advice on how to strengthen the most vulnerable doors and windows in your own home, speak with the team at Rockingham Home Security on (08) 9527 1499 and get practical recommendations tailored to your property.
