"Sam Nickaby" wrote

We have these PVC sliding windows that have locks that press
in until it clicks before you can slide them open. When you want shut
the window, you just slide the window shut and the window will
lock automatically.
The problem is that these are badly designed locks. I didn't know
about this problem until my neighbor with the same window got
broken in. They now use a lengthy wooden rod to lock the
window. They said the bad guys used a credit card to open
the lock. What is a practical way to protect these windows
from thieves?

One advice that hasn't been mentioned is similar to putting a couple
of screws in the top track. Just slide a good fit piece of wood on the
top track that'll cover the whole sliding window. The hard part is finding
the perfect size wood. A renter lady on the bad part of town told me this.