Can a simple magnet be used to open a slider door when it's locked?

Common, please help, at around three a.m. lately I wake up feeling a cold chil and check and the slider door is unlocked. When I double checked to make sure it was locked before the kids went to sleep at night. what's up?

Can a simple magnet be used to open a slider door when it's locked?
No . Most , if not all of these slider locks are made of cast white metal , which is not magnetic . A magnet would have no effect on the lock , because white metal is a "non-ferrous" metal .





Even if the lock were made of steel or iron , a "ferrous" metal , a magnet would have to be gigantic , or a very powerful electro-magnet would have to be used . The magnet in this case would have to be so large it would require several people just to carry it !





So I doubt very much a magnet was used . Sounds to me like someone opened the slider from the inside to let themselves out , rather than from the outside to let themselves in .........
Reply:I have never tried it, but it may be possible, depending on your type of lock. Consider wedging the door closed with a long dowel or broomstick cut to to fit between the slding door panel and the frame.
Reply:The broomstick thing works great, unless one of the kids is sneaking out side at night.


I guess you will find that out soon enough if the stick does not work.
Reply:Use the stick to hold the doors from opening. This way you will know if it is being opened from inside or out. Bet if it is a kid, you will be asked why it is there.
Reply:Right now, I'm more concerned in why it is unlocked. Who is coming in at 3am. I find this scary!



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