Heather we too didn't think about having bars fitted until our neighbour got burgled. She is on the first floor and actually caught a guy on her balcony during the night. We are on the second floor and they have tried to get in our patio doors by prising them open with a screwdriver we know this from the damage. This means they have climbed up either by using the air con units or drainpipe not thinking twice about whether they might fall.
So we had them fitted last october. Yes they don't look that great but you just get used to them. We have lost a bit of room on our balconys but feel more reassured, especially when we are not in Turkey.