Your garage is typically one of the weakest spots in your home’s security. The problem is, it’s also where you keep some of your most valuable stuff. As such, you’ll want to look into making your garage more secure and ensuring that no one can get inside. Here’s how to secure garage doors from intruders and protect your home.
Improve Lighting Around Your Garage
The first thing you’ll want to do is take a look at the lighting around your garage. Anyone trying to get into your garage will be happy to see a lack of light in the area. No one can see them, after all, if there’s no light. If you don’t have any lights up around the garage, now’s the time to install some. You can have a vast range of lights installed, so you can find a model that’s just right for you.
Typically, a motion-activated light will be best. These will come on as soon as someone comes into their vicinity. If a burglar comes near, the lights will come on, and typically they’ll be warned off. They also benefit from lighting your way when you come home at night. Install these lights near the garage door and any windows, as these will be the places where burglars would try and get in.
Keep Your Garage Door Closed
This sounds like a no-brainer tip, but you’d be amazed how many people leave their garage doors open. When you do this, you’re inviting burglars inside. Even if you’re going out for a moment, ensure that you shut that garage door behind you. In Arizona, a homeowner’s association implemented a rule where all homeowners had to keep their garage doors closed.
This reduced crime in the area by 50%, so you can see how many garage burglaries are simply a crime of opportunity. You can get garage door sensors installed, as these will be able to tell if the door is open or closed. After some time, they will message the garage door opener to shut the door for you. That way, you can never leave it open by accident. You can also get automatic garage door locks to lock the door once it shuts.
Update Your Garage Door Opener
On the subject of your garage door opener, you’ll want to look into updating it. If you have an older model, it’s very easy for a burglar to use a device to copy the code it sends from the remote to the opener when you open the door. Once they have that code, they can use their own device to open it.
With a newer opener, though, it’s impossible for them to do that. That’s because the newer garage door openers use rolling codes. When you open or close your garage door, it will change the code needed. That way, that code can’t be cloned by anyone else trying to get in.
Take the Remote Out of Your Car
Many people tend to keep their garage door opener remote clipped to the visor in their car. It makes it a lot easier to get in when you get home from work, but the problem is it also makes it easier for burglars. If a burglar comes across that remote, that will act as another key into your home.
You don’t want to give them that opportunity, so you’ll want to take the remote in with you, along with your house and car keys, when you get home. You can also invest in a smart garage door opener that you can operate with your smartphone instead.
Reconsider Your Landscaping
Your landscaping may look amazing, but you’ll need to consider it from a burglar’s perspective. If you have plants and trees in front of your garage, they can be the perfect hiding spot before they go and break in.
The best thing to do is clear away any plant life that blocks the view of your garage from the street and ensures that all entry points are visible. If you want to keep some plants around the garage, try planting small thorny bushes under the windows. These can discourage burglars from trying to get any closer.
Hide Your Valuables
In your home, you’d never keep the house keys in plain view or leave the valuables on display when you’re not there. However, many homeowners leave their valuables on full display in their garages. If you want to lessen the chance that someone will break in, then you’ll want to hide anything valuable that’s in there.
If you have windows in the garage or garage door, use curtains or blinds to block the view. If you want to let light in, you can choose to have etched glass installed. That will block the view but let light in during the day. If a burglar can’t see in, they can’t see what you have and are less likely to try and break in.
Protect Side Doors
If your garage has a side door, that’s probably where the burglar is trying to get into your garage. They’re typically out of view of the street and easier to break into. Some doors can even be opened with just a well-placed kick. You can take some measures to protect this door, though. You can install a deadbolt and replace the strike plate with a reinforced one.
The strike plate is the weakest part of the door, and the burglar knows that, so you can make it harder for them to kick it in. Use 3-inch screws minimum to secure that plate to the door. Follow these tips, and you can keep your garage secure. It is harder for burglars to get in, and they’re less likely to try.
Conclusion
These are some of the best tips to maximize the protection of your garage and keep your home secure. If your garage needs maintenance or repairs, Your Garage Door Guys are ready to help! We are available in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.