MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. -- Think back to that old Bible story of Samson and Delilah. It's a lot like impact windows. They're tough as can be, but they have a weakness.

Talk to Andy Scalese with ADT Security and he'll tell you thieves are onto it.

"Thieves didn't know how to penetrate it, and now they're getting smarter," he told Local 10's Sasha Andrade.

Scalese said years ago homes with impact glass were not broken into. Now, he said, three out of every 10 break-ins in South Florida involve impact glass.

"It's getting to be a big problem," he said.

In most cases, criminals take a screwdriver and a hammer to the glass until it forms a tiny hole. Then they slip a thin metal rod through the hole to pop the lock.

Residents who spoke to Andrade were stunned. They didn't know what to do for protection.

"I guess arm yourself and do the cowboy thing," said homeowner Caty Jimenez.

Scalese said securing one's home doesn't have to be that extreme. He advises people to get three things. The first is a shock sensor. That will sound off the alarm if someone starts banging on the window.

Second, he advises, is to put a wired mesh screen on the window. If it's cut, the alarm will ring.

Third, Scalese said to install a motion detector just in case someone manages to get through.

There are some cheaper ways to protect your home. Police recommend lighting the outside very well and trimming the bushes so there's no place to hide. Also, police recommend turning the blinds to a strategic angle so no expensive items are showing. Finally, put out a dog bowl even if there isn't a dog. It might scare off a potential burglar.