Garage door security is a imporant aspect of home protection that often goes overlooked. According to a study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, burglaries of residential properties accounted for 62.8% of all burglary offenses in the United States¹. In many of these cases, the garage served as the point of entry. Imagine a scenario where you return from a long, tiring day at work, only to find your garage door wide open, and your valuable possessions gone. This is a scenario that plays out all too often across the country.
Enhancing your garage security can help prevent such incidents. This article provides tips to elevate your garage door security and keep your possessions safe. Remember, your garage doesn’t have to be an open invitation for burglars. With the right measures in place, you can ensure your belongings are protected, and your peace of mind is intact.
Key Takeaways
- Upgrade your garage door opener to a model with rolling code technology and smart features for enhanced security. This allows for remote monitoring and reduces the risk of code interception.
- Reinforce all entry points including the main garage door, service door, and connecting doors. Use durable materials and install strong locks to prevent unauthorized access.
- Enhance visibility around your garage with exterior lighting and use window treatments to block the view of valuable items inside. This deters potential thieves.
- Safeguard your remote opener by attaching it to a keychain and keeping it hidden when not in use. This reduces the risk of it being stolen or misplaced.
- Secure the emergency release mechanism and install protective shields to prevent unauthorized access. This addresses vulnerabilities in your garage door system.
- Install a robust security system for your garage that includes motion-activated cameras and constant surveillance. This deters potential thieves and safeguards your belongings.
- Participate in neighborhood watch programs and report any suspicious activities. This promotes community safety and deterrence of potential burglars.
Upgrade Your Garage Door Opener
One of the simplest ways to improve your garage security is to follow some garage door security tips, such as upgrading to a new garage door, installing a garage door lock, and updating your garage door opener. Older models can be easy targets for thieves, especially when they find a garage door open, as many use fixed codes that can be intercepted and replicated.
Elevate your garage’s security by shifting to a modern system. Opt for one that uses rolling code technology and smart features, enhancing security and enabling remote monitoring.
Rolling Code Technology
Rolling code technology is a game-changer when it comes to garage door security. Unlike fixed-code systems, rolling code technology generates a new, unique code each time the remote button is pressed, making it virtually impossible for burglars to intercept and replicate.
Investing in a garage door opener with rolling code technology significantly bolsters the protection of your garage and home against break-ins.
Smart Garage Door Openers
Smart garage door openers are another excellent way to enhance your garage security. These advanced systems allow you to monitor and control your garage door remotely, sending real-time alerts straight to your smartphone whenever the door is opened or closed.
A smart garage door opener grants you the ability to monitor your garage door’s status from any location at any time. This not only brings peace of mind but also deters potential thieves.
Strengthen Entry Points
Preventing unauthorized access necessitates the reinforcement of all garage entry points, including the main garage door, service door, and the door connecting to your home.
Remember, a determined burglar will look for the weakest point of entry, so securing all doors is essential for comprehensive protection.
Reinforce Garage Doors
To reinforce your garage doors, consider the following steps:
Use steel or other durable materials for your garage doors.
Install strong locks to enhance security.
Address any warping or lack of a secure seal to prevent intruders from gaining access.
- Regular maintenance and reinforcement of your garage doors significantly increase the difficulty for potential burglars to break in.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your garage doors are reinforced and provide better security for your property.
Secure Service and Connecting Doors
Securing service and connecting doors, including the exterior door, is just as important as reinforcing the main garage door. When upgrading a back or side entry door to the garage, choose a robust material like steel and secure it with a sturdy deadbolt.
Equip the connecting door to your home with a solid core, a reinforced strike plate, and a deadbolt lock. This will further complicate a burglar’s attempt to access your home, even if they manage to enter your garage.
Enhance Visibility and Deterrence
Increasing visibility around your garage and making it less appealing to potential burglars is another essential aspect of garage security. This can be achieved by strategically placing exterior lighting and using window treatments to block the view of valuables inside.
We’ll delve deeper into these two methods.
Exterior Lighting
Installing motion-activated lights around your garage can deter potential thieves by startling them and keeping entry points visible at night.
In addition to motion-activated floodlights, consider using landscaping to your advantage by trimming trees and bushes to eliminate hiding spots and ensure entry points are visible from the street. Reducing the appeal of your garage as a target lessens the chances of a break-in.
Window Treatments
Window treatments, such as frosted glass or adhesive coverings, can also help deter burglars by preventing them from seeing the valuable items inside your garage through garage door windows. Options like tinted security film not only obstruct the view but also make the garage windows more difficult to break.
Making the contents of your garage difficult to assess for thieves diminishes your likelihood of becoming a target.
Safeguard Your Remote Opener
Your garage door remote opener can be a security risk if not properly safeguarded. Many homeowners leave their remote clipped to their car’s sun visor, making it an easy target for thieves who can break into the car and use the remote to access the garage.
For the secure keeping of your remote opener, it’s advisable to attach it to a keychain and keep it hidden when not in use.
Keychain Remote Opener
A keychain garage door opener remote is a convenient and secure solution for safeguarding your garage door opener. By attaching the remote to your keychain, you’ll ensure it’s always with you and less likely to be stolen or misplaced.
Furthermore, a keychain remote opener complicates a thief’s attempt to access your garage, as they would need to steal both your keys and the remote.
Conceal and Protect
Keep your remote opener concealed when not in use to avoid detection by potential thieves. A glove box or any hidden compartment in your vehicle serves as good storage.
Additionally, upgrading to a universal or smart opener can provide added security, as these systems often require a unique code or smartphone authentication to operate, making it more difficult for criminals to gain access to your garage.
Prevent Unauthorized Access
Secure the emergency release mechanism and install protective shields to prevent unauthorized garage access. These measures address vulnerabilities in your garage door system, fortifying it against break-ins.
Zip Tie Emergency Release
Using a zip tie to secure the emergency release mechanism on your garage door opener can help prevent burglars from exploiting this feature. By attaching a small zip tie to the release lever, you’ll make it much harder for thieves to pull the emergency release cord using a wire hook, while still allowing the mechanism to function in case of a power outage.
This simple yet effective garage shield measure can greatly improve your attached garage security.
Install Protective Shields
Installing protective shields or metal plates to block access to the garage door cord is another effective measure to prevent break-ins using wire coat hangers. These shields can be easily installed and provide an additional layer of security for your garage door system.
Adopting these precautions lessens the likelihood of a burglar infiltrating your garage.
Monitor and Secure Your Garage
A robust security system for your garage includes:
Motion-activated cameras
Constant surveillance
Deterrence of potential thieves
Safeguarding your belongings
See our list of the best home security systems without a subscription.
Security System Benefits
Installing a security system can greatly reduce the risk of burglary, as homes without them are 300% more likely to be targeted. Investing in a garage security system sends a clear signal to potential burglars that your home isn’t susceptible to easy targeting.
Moreover, a security system can provide peace of mind, knowing that your garage is well-protected against break-ins.
check out these home security system benefits.
Motion-Activated Cameras
Motion-activated cameras provide real-time monitoring and deter potential thieves by making your garage a less attractive target. By installing these cameras around your garage, you’ll be able to keep an eye on any suspicious activity and take appropriate action if necessary.
In addition to deterring burglars, motion-activated security cameras can also provide valuable evidence in the event of a break-in, helping law enforcement catch the culprits and recover stolen property.
Be a Good Neighbor and Stay Vigilant
Maintaining a safe community requires good neighborliness and vigilance. Participation in neighbourhood watch programs and reporting suspicious activities aids in the protection of your garage and those of your neighbours.
By working together, we can create a safer environment for everyone.
Neighborhood Watch
Joining or starting a neighborhood watch program is an effective way to increase security and communication among neighbors. These programs encourage residents to look out for one another, report any suspicious activity, and collaborate with local law enforcement to prevent crime.
Involvement in a neighborhood watch contributes to the safety and well-being of your community.
Report Suspicious Activity
Creating a safe environment for everyone calls for the reporting of suspicious activities to local authorities. Contact law enforcement without hesitation if you detect anything unusual or extraordinary.
Encourage your neighbors to do the same, as increased vigilance can help deter potential criminals and make your community a safer place to live.
Garage Door Security Summary
Garage door security is an important step in bolstering your home security. As we’ve discussed in this article, there are several strategies you can employ to ensure your garage and the treasures it holds remain safe and secure.
Begin by upgrading your garage door opener. Opt for a model with rolling code technology and smart features for enhanced security and remote monitoring capabilities. This not only improves your garage’s security but also grants you peace of mind knowing you can check on your garage from anywhere, at any time.
Next, turn your attention to the entry points. Reinforce all doors, including the main garage door, service door, and any doors connecting to your home. Use sturdy materials and install robust locks to deter unauthorized access. Remember, a well-secured door is a significant deterrent for potential burglars.
Don’t overlook the importance of visibility. Enhance the area around your garage with exterior lighting and use window treatments to obstruct the view of any valuable items inside. This not only deters potential thieves but also makes your garage less appealing as a target.
Your remote opener is a vital piece of your garage security. Safeguard it by attaching it to a keychain and keeping it hidden when not in use. This simple step reduces the risk of it being stolen or misplaced, further enhancing your security.
Take measures to prevent unauthorized access by securing the emergency release mechanism and installing protective shields. These steps address potential vulnerabilities in your garage door system and add an extra layer of protection.
Monitor your garage with a robust security system and participate in neighborhood watch programs. These actions not only protect your property but also contribute to the safety of your entire community.
By following these garage door security tips, you’re not just securing your garage, but you’re also taking a significant step towards protecting your home and community. Let’s work together to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
How can I make my garage door more secure?
Secure your garage door by installing locks, covering windows, and adding motion sensor lights. Reinforce the service door for extra protection and consider upgrading to a smart garage door opener. Lastly, don’t forget to conceal your remote and keypad code to further protect your home.
What is the best high-security garage door?
Sectional garage doors are the best high security option as they offer better protection due to no obvious points of attack, providing a strong and reliable security solution.
How to lock garage door?
To lock your garage door, unplug the garage door opener and disengage the emergency disconnect. Additionally, use a padlock to lock the garage door from the inside, lock the track or install a keyed deadbolt, slip a C-clamp through the track, use a zip tie to secure the garage door in place. Keep the remote in the house and lock the release lever or disable it.
Citations:
- FBI. (2019). Crime in the United States, 2019: Burglary. Retrieved from https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/burglary
