Security vs. Being Cool - Tips to Secure Your Window A/C Unit

I was facing a dilemma recently about how to secure an air conditioner in a ground floor window. So the two following resources quickly filtered to the top.

Several law enforcement agencies across the country offer similar advice for securing your window units:

1) Install an air conditioner bracket to the outside of the unit so the bracket not only supports the air conditioner, but attaches to the bottom of the unit and the house.

2) Add a sliding window lock to each side of the window frame. Depending on the type, the locks are bolted or screwed in. They prevent burglars from sliding the window up and down.

3) Measure the length from the side of the unit to the wall. Purchase and attach a steel corner brace to each side of the air conditioner. Connect the other end to a secure section of the wall. Use screws or bolts to secure the brackets in place preventing thieves from pushing the air conditioner in or pulling it out.

4) Install a small window sensor alarm. Magnetic controls set above the air conditioner will go off if the unit is moved or the window is opened. The high-pitched noise will alert anyone in the home and likely scare the burglar away.

Ehow.com suggests burglar-proofing your ground floor window unit like this:

Drill a downward-slanting hole through the upper right corner of your bottom window's trim and into the trim of the upper window where they overlap; repeat on the left side. Insert a long nail or eyebolt in each hole. This locks the window in its current position so a burglar can't slide it up to pull the AC out.
Drill screws through sections of the AC frame that overlap the window trim to secure the unit in place.
Install steel window bars across the top and bottom of the unit's exterior. Attach the bars with two 5/16-by-3 inch lag screws on each side. Follow the installation instructions that accompany the security bars to ensure proper attachment and placement.
Attach a warning sticker noting an AC alarm system to the side of the unit, regardless of whether you actually have an alarm system.