Garage doors, although you may not think about them often, pose one of the largest safety risks of anywhere in your home. If not properly secured, they offer a relatively easy entry point for an intruder. We want to help you keep you home safe on all fronts, so here are a few tips for securing your attached garage.
Add lights. As with most of our posts with tips, we start with adding lights to your garage. We say this for nearly everything because it’s the easiest, most affordable way to secure your home. Intruders are less likely to break into a well-lit area. They’re looking for shadows and darkness to cover their tracks. Installing motion sensing lights outside and inside (if possible) your garage will help keep it more secure.
Prevent fishing. Fishing takes a little bit more work on the intruders part, but utilizes a garage door’s weakest link: the release cord. This cord is necessary for functionality if your garage door breaks, but it also offers one of the most dependable ways to break into your garage. All an intruder has to do is create a space between the door and the top of the garage opening, “fish” in a hook, grab the release cord, and pull. An easy way to stop this threat is by installing a shield using a wood cleat and scrap wood. Attach it to the arm of the garage door in front of the release cord. This way, if someone tries to hook the cord, they’ll hit the shield before they can reach the cord.
Lock the entry door, and lock the garage door on longer trips. The entry door to your house should be high quality and equipped with a deadbolt. Keep it locked as well. This way, even if someone gets into your garage, they won’t be able to also plunder your house. You can also add a lock reinforcer for more security. If you’re going on a longer trip and want extra garage security, lock your garage door closed by drilling a small hole in the track and inserting a padlock. Keep in mind that it’s important where you put this lock, so we suggest talking with an experienced locksmith like one from Advanced Lock & Security before you take on this project.
Don’t leave a garage door opener in your vehicle. We know, it’s convenient, and why would openers come with those nice little visor clips if you weren’t supposed to leave them in your car? But dedicated intruders know to look under a rock next to your front door for a house key and on your visor for a garage door opener. Don’t make it so easy. Downsize and attach a small opener to your keys, then take it with you when you leave your vehicle.
Get a high-security garage door opener. If you really want to go for it and protect your garage at all costs, there are a few high security garage door openers you can invest in. These openers have built-in monitors and can automatically close the door if you forget. Some also include lighting control, smartphone integration, alarms, and a lot more. If you can do it (they’re surprisingly affordable), a high-tech garage door opener is probably the best way to secure your attached garage.
These are just a few of the easiest ways to secure your attached garage, but our security experts at Advanced Lock & Security can help you find the perfect security precautions for your particular house and garage. We’re always available for consultations, so feel free to contact us for more information.
