If you live in a unit or apartment, it’s easy to assume height is its own security system — that a burglar simply isn’t going to bother climbing several storeys to get to you. Queensland Police say otherwise. In this guide we learn about apartment security screens, and why they’re needed.
What Queensland Police are warning residents about
In a reminder issued in July 2026, Queensland Police confirmed that house break-ins are “one of the most common crimes and can occur at any time of the day or night no matter how high up you are.” Townsville Northern Patrol Group Inspector Jason Brosnan pointed out that criminals can climb drainpipes, parked vehicles and trees to reach balconies, and that “many high-rise break-ins occur through open or unlocked balcony doors.”
His warning is blunt: “Living several floors up doesn’t mean you can’t be targeted.” Most break-ins are opportunistic — offenders look for evidence of quick, easy entry and unsecured valuables in plain sight, and an unlocked balcony door ticks both boxes.
What the numbers say about apartment and unit break-ins
Queensland Police’s own crime mapping backs this up. Across Brisbane, roughly 70% of unlawful entry incidents recorded in the most recent 12-month reporting period were classified as dwellings — homes and units alike.
Nationally, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that in 2024–25, an estimated 1.8% of Australian households experienced a break-in. The ABS also notes that break-ins are most common in areas of higher population density — exactly the profile of apartment buildings and unit blocks, where more dwellings sharing common access points means more opportunity for an offender to find an unsecured entry.
Queenslanders themselves seem to know this. Budget Direct’s 2024 Home Burglary Survey found that of Queensland households that had experienced a break-in, 38% went on to add or change security screens on their doors and windows afterwards — the highest rate of any state surveyed. It’s a reactive statistic, but it points to something worth acting on proactively: security screens work, and Queenslanders who’ve been burgled know it.
Why balcony and window doors are the weak point
Ground-floor entry points get most of the attention, but for apartment security screens, balcony sliding doors are frequently the one opening in a unit that doesn’t get a second thought — because who expects a break-in three storeys up? That’s precisely the gap Queensland Police are asking residents to close.
A flyscreen or a standard sliding door lock won’t stop someone determined to get onto a balcony and in through the door. A genuine security screen door — tested and rated to Australian Standard AS 5039 — is a different proposition. To meet the standard, security screen doors must pass impact, jemmy, pull, probe and knife-shear tests designed to simulate exactly the kind of opportunistic, forced entry Inspector Brosnan is describing, and they must be installed correctly and carry a compliance label to count as genuine security products.
Practical steps for apartment and unit living
A few habits make a real difference, echoed directly in Queensland Police’s advice:
Keep balcony and window security screens locked whenever the unit is unoccupied or overnight, not just the front door. Don’t leave valuables such as car keys, phones or jewellery visible from outside. Use timers on lights or a TV when you’re away, and let a neighbour know if you’ll be gone for an extended period. And make sure every external opening — not just doors at street level — is fitted with a screen that’s actually rated to resist forced entry, rather than a basic flyscreen that keeps out insects but not intruders.
Securing every opening, not just the front door
Apartment security is often designed around the building’s front entry and car park access — but what happens at your own balcony or bedroom window is just as important, and it’s squarely your responsibility as a resident. Quality security screen doors and window security screens give you airflow and natural light without leaving that opening vulnerable, on any floor.
If you’d like advice on securing balcony doors, windows or entryways in your apartment, get a free quote from a Prowler Proof authorised dealer. They’ll help you find the right security screen doors for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
In most strata properties, yes — balcony and window alterations are usually governed by the body corporate’s by-laws. It’s worth checking your scheme’s by-laws or asking the body corporate committee before installing, even though security screens are a low-impact addition.
Yes. As Police note, offenders can climb drainpipes, parked cars, and trees, or use adjoining balconies to reach upper floors — height alone isn’t a deterrent. A compliant security screen door on a balcony closes that gap regardless of floor level.
An insect screen keeps bugs out but offers no resistance to forced entry. A genuine security screen door is tested to Australian Standard AS 5039 and must withstand impact, jemmy, pull, probe and knife-shear tests — a different product entirely, even if it looks similar.
Renters generally need landlord and/or body corporate consent before installing fixed security screens. It’s worth raising it as a request — landlords often see it as a value-adding improvement rather than a liability.
Quality security screen doors are designed to maintain ventilation and shouldn’t obstruct required fire egress paths, but any door on a balcony used as a fire egress point should be confirmed against your building’s fire safety requirements before installation.
Look for a compliance label on the product — if it’s not labelled, it isn’t a certified security door. A reputable supplier will provide a compliance certificate on request.