More than 60% of homes across America have garages or carports somewhere on the property. Having one of these can significantly increase the value of your property. It provides additional storage, as well as security for your car.
However, your garage (and the things inside it) are only safe if you stay on top of your garage security. Over 1.4 million burglaries take place in the United States each year and the majority of these target residential buildings.
Knowing how to secure the garage door on your home will protect you against would-be thieves in more ways than one. In fact, this takes care of one of the most vulnerable points in your home!
So what are you waiting for? Read on to find out more about how to secure your garage door against burglars.
Why Is Securing Your Garage Door Important?
The majority of burglaries that take place in the United States involve forced entry. This means that a burglar has to force their way into a home, rather than making the most of an open door or window.
Because of this, the more secure your home is, the better. Homes that are harder to break into are less likely to become targets for burglaries. So where does your garage door come into all this?
Well, 9% of forced entry break-ins use garages as the entrance point. This might not sound like a lot but when you think of the figures we’re dealing with it quickly adds up!
This is because garage doors often pose a security weakness for a property. So if you’re looking for security weak spots, this is a good place to start.
They generally have fewer safety precautions in place and they’re monitored less. For example, you are more likely to hear someone breaking in through your front door than someone breaking into your garage. This means that the risk of being caught during a break-in is significantly lower for thieves.
On top of this, valuable items, such as cars and bikes, are often stored in garages. These are easy for thieves to carry away or break into.
However, burglars may not just be interested in what is inside your garage. If your garage is attached to your home then it is essential that you secure it properly. This will prevent burglars from using your garage as a burglary entry point for the rest of your home.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the things you can do to make your garage secure.
Make Sure You Close Your Garage Door Regularly
Closing and locking your garage door might sound like the most basic step in home safety ever, but you’d be surprised how many people do not close theirs. Leaving a garage door open in the summer is extremely common, especially in neighborhoods that feel safe.
However, doing this can make you a target for thieves in the area. If any burglars are hanging around your home they are sure to notice an open garage door. This acts as an open invitation to would-be thieves.
Not only does it provide the opportunity for a garage burglary, but it also advertises how secure you feel in your home. This might suggest that you are not concerned with taking security measures to secure the rest of your property. If burglars view you as an easy target, your whole property could be at risk.
Closing your garage door regularly does not require a lot of extra effort but it will immediately make your home more secure.
Invest in Smart Protection
Smart technology is a major part of daily life in homes across America. In fact, there are currently more than 42 million smart homes in the country. This tech makes simplifies a huge range of daily tasks and home security is no exception.
A smart opener allows you to monitor your garage door no matter where you are. All you need is an app on your phone and you will be able to check if the door is open, shut, or locked. The app even allows you to open or close your garage door remotely.
This means that if you do leave it open by accident, you can secure it once you are away from your home.
On top of this, you can set up notifications on your phone to let you know when your garage door is open. That way if someone does open your garage door when they shouldn’t, you’ll know about it!
Install Smart Sensors on the Doors and Windows
Smart openers aren’t the only piece of technology you can use to keep your garage secure. Installing sensors on your doors and windows won’t cost you the earth and will help you monitor all the entrances to your garage.
Smart sensors attach to your door frames and window frames using a basic sticky pad. Each half of the sensor contains a magnet.
When these magnets are not in contact for an extended period of time this sends an alert to the app on your phone. That way you can tell if someone has opened a door or window into your garage.
Specialist smart sensors are available for garage doors. These accommodate the tilt of your door so that they still work effectively.
You can also get sensors that are fitted with an alarm. That way if a door or window is opened by an intruder people in the vicinity will know quickly. This acts as a great deterrent for thieves who do gain access to your home.
Use Deadbolt Garage Locks
Most garages have a service door and some also have a door into your property. It is extremely important to secure these doors properly as thieves can use them to target your home.
When it comes to garage door security, it is worth spending money on some decent locks. Deadbolt locks are the strongest types of locks you can go for and it is a good idea to install these on any doors leading in or out of your garage.
Deadbolts provide a lot more security than regular garage locks because they are much harder to break into. It is impossible to move a deadbolt out of its locked position without a key being in the cylinder.
This means no matter how hard a burglar pushes, they won’t get into your garage. You can also reinforce garage doors that you do not use often using a padlock.
If you have anything valuable inside your garage, such as bikes or tools, then it’s a good idea to padlock these up too. That way if someone does get into your garage they won’t be able to steal any high-value items.
Buy a Garage Shield
Securing the main door of your garage can feel like more of a challenge. Because of its size, it may be more flimsy and trickier to secure.
In fact, a lot of burglars are able to open a folding garage door in a matter of seconds. All it takes is a gap around the edge of your garage door and they can use this to reach the emergency release on your door. These gaps can appear around the sides of your garage door when the weather sealing comes loose.
Thankfully, you can protect your emergency release using a garage shield. This fits over the emergency release, making it impossible to trigger it using a coat hanger or anything similar. So even if a burglar does get something in around the edge of your garage door, they will not get much further.
Protect Your Windows
Okay, we’ve looked a lot at protecting your garage doors and what you can do to secure them. But these aren’t the only entrances to your garage that are vulnerable to thieves.
If your garage has windows, it is important to maintain these properly. Weak seals or window frames are natural parts of wear and tear but can make it a lot easier for someone to break in through a window. So make sure that you check your windows regularly and carry out any necessary repairs as soon as you can.
Window sensors, as we’ve already mentioned, are another great way to monitor any windows that slide open.
Whether or not your garage windows open, it is also a good idea to install window film on them. This makes them shatter-resistant so thieves cannot break their way into your garage. You can get custom-fit pieces of window film or buy it in rolls.
If you do store valuables in your garage, you should also seriously consider frosting the glass of any windows that you have. This will prevent thieves from looking into your garage. Not only does this prevent them from seeing what there is the steal, but it also stops them from being able to plan the best way to do this.
Invest in Security Cameras
If you have the budget for them, installing security cameras is a great way to deter would-be thieves from your property.
Most burglars will immediately be put off by the presence of a security camera. After all, the risk of them getting caught massively outweighs the value of robbing a house or garage.
Fortunately, security cameras are now available in a whole range of different budgets. Some things to consider before buying one for your property are:
- How many cameras do you want?
- What kind of data storage is included with a camera?
- How good is a camera’s connectivity?
- Are you looking for a smart camera or additional features?
- Should you go for battery-charged or mains powered camera?
- Where are you planning to mount your security camera?
These will all help you to find the right cameras for your property.
Install Security Lighting
Security lighting is another great way to deter thieves from breaking into your garage, especially if you live in a poorly lit area. Shadowy and poorly-lit spots make it much easier for people to break into your garage without getting caught or recognized.
Motion detector security lighting works in two great ways to keep your garage secure.
- If it comes on when you are in your home, this immediately alerts you to the presence of someone near your garage.
- It lets would-be thieves know you’re aware of their presence and leaves them exposed. Often this will be enough to put them off continuing with a crime.
Security lighting also keeps you safe at night when coming in and out of your garage or property. It means you can feel secure when locking up your garage, safe in the knowledge that no one can be lurking nearby.
Make Sure You Protect Your Keys and Security Codes
Whatever you use to open your garage door, make sure you keep this safe. Leaving your keys or security codes lying around immediately makes it easier for thieves to break into a property.
If you have an electronic garage control, it might be tempting to leave a fob for your garage somewhere in your car. Try to avoid this if you can. Leaving the fob in your car makes it easier for someone to steal it if they do break into your garage.
You should also limit the number of people who have access to your keys and only give out security codes when absolutely necessary. If you do give you a security access code to someone, then reset this when they have finished using it. That way your security systems remain effective.
Now You Know How to Secure the Garage Door
As you can see, knowing how to secure the garage door of your home is essential to keeping both your garage and everything inside it safe! Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure that your garage remains secure.
Want to know more about great ways to secure your garage and the rest of your property? Find out more about our residential locksmith services here and get in touch with a member of our team today! We’re here to help.
