Every 18 seconds, a home is broken into in the US. Roughly 60% of these break-ins occur during the day. And the most likely place they’ll enter is through the garage door.
So when you go to work, the thieves are going to work too — casing your home, trying for unlocked doors, hacking into electronic openers to get inside.
How secure is your home and garage? Considering the bikes, sports equipment and tools, a simple garage break in can leave your family vulnerable to thousands of dollars in property losses. Here’s how to prevent thieves from burglarizing your garage and violating the sanctity of your home.
Hide Your Garage Door Opener
Do you leave your garage door opener in your car? While it’s convenient, it’s also an invitation for thieves. A rock through a car window or an unlocked car door can leave your entire garage door vulnerable.
Instead, consider getting an opener that can attach to your keys or a smart garage door opener that works from your phone. Leaving your opener in your garage door is just too tempting.
Disconnect Your Opener When on Vacation
It’s always a good idea to disconnect your opener from the power supply when you go on vacation. You might also lock the garage door. Thieves can often spot when you’re away. They look at it as an invitation.
Install a Rigid Door
If you are considering installing a new garage door, you might consider a more rigid and durable model that’s protected against break-ins. A sandwich-style garage door is stronger and designed to withstand the impact of a metal bar or an electric saw. You might consider injecting the door with 1 3/4-inch (45-mm) thick polyurethane. This will make it stronger as well as insulate the door, so you’ll save less to heat and cool your garage as well as your home.
Cover Garage Door Windows
If you have windows in your garage door, you might consider covering them with curtains or switching them out to an opaque glass. It might even be a good idea to just board them up. Thieves can break through the window and then use a coat hanger or other device to work the latch to open the door.
Install Security Cameras/Get a Smart Garage Door Opener
Security cameras are very affordable these days. You can install cameras that can be viewable remotely through an Internet connection. This way, you can see if you need to call the police or have evidence to provide police if a break-in does occur.
Smart garage door openers allow you to view and control your door remotely via any smartphone. This way you can spot a break-in in progress, lock the door or call the authorities.