Iron bars on windows and doors

It used to be the case that insurance was cheaper if you had iron bars. I'm not sure if this is the case these days, as battery-driven disc cutters are so cheap to buy (or steal !).

But the bars do deter the opportunist. 

Some people who sleep on the ground floor like bars, as the windows can be left open (with insect screens) in the intermediate seasons (when a/c is not required).

This is not a perfect solution however. I few years ago some people were burgled by introducing gas through open windows, rendering the occupants unconscious.

Oh please not that hoary old myth yet again!

This is an extension of the stories which surface from time to time of people being gassed and robbed in motor homes or caravans whilst parked overnight at motorway service areas.

UK's Royal College of Anesathetists have publically stated numerous times that they know of no gas which could be randomly administered to a cross section of victims of varying ages and physical conditions which would not just knock them out but also carry a huge risk of killing them, they wish they did!

Think about that for a moment and imagine the dose of this 'magic' and secret gas which would knock out a healthy say 25 or 30 year old then administer the self same dose to a baby or toddler, or even a small dog, and see if it survives!

It's a load of codswallop! 
 

When I started visiting Spain in the 60's an open window was the only form of air con!  Rejas enabled people to sleep with their windows open, often go out in summer leaving windows open. Very rare to find older town houses without rejas (unless removed more recently). None of my family in Spain used air con - my grandfather, step-grandmother (lived in Spain from the 60's), aunt, uncle or my parents used air con, just open windows in all their years there. New properties don't generally have rejas, they don't need them because they are built with air con systems. Personally I still prefer the old way of opening a window at night, but my husband likes air con!

It is not a myth.

It happened to people that I know well, in the early 2000s.

Hi Nice1son,

Having rejas on your windows and doors makes very little difference to your insurance - we have them downstairs, but not upstairs, and our insurer advised that the discount we would receive if we had them upstairs as well would be €5!

Kind regards,

Kim

They are either imagining it or making it up. What actual proof do they have?.
. https://roundabouteuropeinamotorhome.co.uk/statement-on-alleged-gassing-in-motor-vehicles.

and
/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/jenson-button-burglary-experts-cast-doubt-on-claims-f1-star-was-gassed-with-anaesthetic-10445501.htmlYes there are military grade gasses which can knock people out as in the 2002 Moscow theatre siege but if they are what's allegedly being used  it's inconceivable that they wouldn't have killed many people but there are zero reports to be found anywhere of that having happened.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_theater_hostage_crisis

I know these people well. They are respected in the community. 

I assume that you are calling me a liar, or gullible.

I will block you.

Hello Russ

 Oh I love having rejas on my windows & french doors, the extra security it gives me is priceless. My property is quite inaccessible anyway but windows open 24hrs a day in the hot months is lovely & I'd hate to live without them.

 When I bought this apt. (2003) the previous Swedish owners had removed the side  bedroom ones, but  6months later, when I awoke to a man climbing through my bedroom window from a tiny sloping ledge... I rapidly had them replaced. Newer apts built more recently in the area,  already have them as standard.

Cheers

Elinspain

If a burglar wants to be in no reja will deter him if he,s determined. In 2006, our bathroom reja was ripped out of the wall and burglars got in and completely ransacked our 5 bed finca taking goods out via the front door after grinding off the hinges. I think on urbanisations the noise of grinding would be off putting but in the campo definitely not. We lost everything (4.5ton of belongings as per couriers weigh sheet from year before) so they must have made many visits once they,d managed to get in. 3 yrs later again a reja from bedroom window was ripped away from wall but then an alarm forced them to abandon burglary and very little taken. I still wouldn't be without them though. We are non residents and have 2 house alarms which give us some peace of mind. Btw, insurance refused payout and we lost 20k€ approx worth of goods in initial ransacking but at least 2nd burglary insurance company paid out for damage repairs. 

Regards 

Pauline