If you’re beefing up protection for your home, do not neglect garage security. Due to how it’s constructed and the way it’s connected to your home, the garage can be the most vulnerable area in your home. If it is not properly secured it could be an easy access point to your property and its contents for burglars.
You don’t have to take chances with the safety of your family and possessions. The tips below will put you on the right track to improve your garage security.
1. Select Your Garage Door Carefully
Do your research before you purchase new garage doors. There are a number of things you need to consider besides how the doors look. You also want the best protection possible. Most modern garage doors are dependable as a barrier to your garage space. However, some doors have more security features than others.
The door material and type of opening mechanism can indicate how secure a garage door will perform. Certain types of garage doors, like the roll-up shutter design, are known to be quite secure. Don’t hesitate to have a talk with an expert to determine which doors most likely give you the good looks you want plus the security you need.
2. Invest in a Smart Garage Door Opener Activity Monitor
Remote door openers keep doors in a lockdown position even if you’re not actually in the garage. Unfortunately, determined thieves have been known to manually force doors open. Or they can sometimes even hack the opener’s code. You can fight back with garage security technology that will let you know if this happens.
Invest in a smartphone garage door monitor that is compatible with rolling garage doors. These work equally well with sectional and or slide-to-the-side garage doors. The monitor is attached to the garage door frame and synched to your smartphone. You get an alert if your garage door has been opened unexpectedly. Even if you’re not home you can be notified and then can immediately send the police.
3. Install and Maintain Security Cameras
Criminals don’t like to be caught on video. Purchase and install a visible security camera on your garage as a crime deterrent. Choose extra garage security features like motion detectors that start recording as soon as a person or car starts up your driveway. To enhance your garage security arsenal, select cameras with night vision and that can synch to your smart home system like Alexa.
And, of course, a security camera is useless if it’s not working. Maintain your camera system regularly. Clear dirt or other types of debris from the camera lens. Replace any batteries if needed and be sure to keep the firmware up to date to deter hackers.
4. Remove the Garage Door Opener From Your Car
Like many homeowners, you might clip your garage door opener to the sun visor in your car. Although this may be a convenient way to store the remote, it is visible to anyone passing by your vehicle.
Eliminate the chance that someone will steal your remote and threaten your garage security. Keep your remote in your pocket or purse. You can also clip it to your car keys since they are generally in your possession when using your car.
5. Keep the Garage Door Area Well-Lit
A sudden bright light can deter a thief from trying to get into your garage. Install floodlights on the outside whether on sliding, side-hinged, or rolling garage doors. Choose floodlights with wide-range motion detectors that will turn on before the thief gets close to your property.
You can also choose solar-powered floodlights that can be easily installed without electrical wiring. Whatever installation you choose, you will be adding an extra layer to securing your garage.
6. Lock the Connecting Door to the House
An attached garage with a roll-up shutter is great for getting out of your car and into your home without being affected too much by bad weather. However, keep in mind that a connecting door can be a garage security risk if the door is left unlocked. In the event someone gets in your garage, the unlocked door gives them access to your entire house.
For extra safety install a steel door with a deadbolt lock at this potential point of entry. Make sure you use the lock at all times whether you’re home or away.
7. Leave the Garage Door Closed
You might leave your garage door open while you go in and out of the garage to get tools and equipment for a home project. This normal homeowner DIY behaviour could be a garage security risk.
Avoid giving prying eyes a good look at what’s in your garage as you work around the house. You don’t know who might walk by, see the contents, and be tempted to take something. Similarly, make sure your garage is securely locked before you leave, even if you’re running a short errand.
8. Change Your Security Code
Most likely you keep the code to your garage remote secure. Yet there may be rare occasions that you have to give the code to someone. For example, you might do so if you are going away and you’re leaving someone to do some house-sitting, or a repair person needs access to your roll-up shutter garage while you’re at work.
Don’t forget to clear out the old password and reprogram the keypad afterward. Another tip for practicing garage security is to periodically change the garage code whether you have shared it or not.
9. Cover Your Garage Door Windows
As lovely as they may be, windows on garage doors can pose a security risk. There are a few things you can do if you don’t want to replace your garage door windows. You can have windows replaced with frosted glass to let in light but obscure visibility. Or purchase tinted film to cover your garage windows to make it hard to see what’s inside.
If you are buying new garage doors, select a style that has windows at the top of the door. You’ll get the light you want and still be able to maintain garage security.
10. Keep Valuables Out of Sight
Since they need to be opened and closed to allow your car in and out, all garages are exposed at some point. To address this inevitability, arrange your garage so that the most valuable items are not in direct line of sight when the door is open. If possible, put smaller items like power tools in closed cabinets. Use tarps to cover equipment or other large big-ticket items. Hopefully, these small changes will make your garage less tempting when the door is open.
Don’t Allow Your Garage to Be an Easy Target
Garage security should be as important as protecting your front entry door and windows. Thieves steal more than your possessions. They also take your peace of mind. Hopefully, you can use some of these tips to prevent intrusion into your garage and enjoy your home with less worry.
