WEAK SPOTS IN YOUR SPANISH HOME
and how to secure them smartly.
by Frank Bogers
Homes on the Costa del Sol have specific weak spots that you must know as a foreign owner. Building style, location, and periods of vacancy make certain points popular with burglars. This blog explains where the risks lie and which solutions work best for homes in Southern Spain.
Many houses in this region have large sliding doors, aluminium windows, and multiple entrances on the garden side. These elements give comfort but are vulnerable to burglary. Many holiday homes stand empty for long periods, which can be clearly visible. Dark zones around the home make it easy to enter unseen.
Most burglaries happen via sliding doors without anti-lift security. Burglars open aluminium windows with simple locks quickly. Garages that are not on the alarm system form an unnoticed entry point. Side entrances and roof terraces are also often forgotten in the security plan. These are points you can improve immediately.
Follow these steps to secure your home:
- Secure sliding doors. Ensure all sliding doors have anti-lift blocks and door contacts that send an alert.
- Reinforce windows. Use extra locks or window bars. Consider traditional Spanish grilles (rejas). You might not like the look, but it is the most effective delay. Choose decorative models or retractable scissor gates that you only close when you leave for home.
- Install sensors. Secure garden gates and side entrances with sensors.
- Use lighting. Place sensor lighting at dark points around the house.
- Maintain the garden. Do not forget the garden. Greenery grows very fast in Andalusia. Keep bushes and hedges pruned short before you leave so burglars cannot hide right next to your wall.
Check the garage. Include the garage in the alarm system. Check if your door cylinders meet modern anti-snap standards.
In practice, this approach works well. A home in Marbella with an unprotected sliding door, dark side passage, and a garage without detection was secured with three simple measures: anti-lift blocking, sensor lighting, and garage detection. The risk dropped immediately. The owner gained full control via the app.
Walk through your home critically. Check sliding doors, windows, the garden side, lighting, and the garage. A good security plan for your house in Spain starts with strengthening these points. You make your home less predictable and much harder for intruders to access.
Ready to take the next step?