Homeowners can spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on high-quality security systems to safeguard their cars and homes. Yet at the same time, they neglect to pay attention to their garage door, one of the most common entry points for burglars. If your garage connects to your home, it’s the easiest way to get access inside.
With so many of us now working from home, security may have become lax. To ensure that your home is safe from attempted break-ins, check out a few tips that will help secure your garage and protect your home from theft.
Get an Automatic Door Closer
Your garage door is only as secure as your garage door opener. It provides you with a safe and convenient point of access to your home. Today’s door openers come with high-tech, key features that do more than just open and close your door. They are Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to monitor your garage door from near or far at any time. See if your garage door is open or closed or close it yourself from a distance. Get alerts when someone tries to enter. Change settings on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. With the timer-to-close feature, your garage door will automatically close when it’s left open for a specific period. You can also set up recurring schedules to close your door. Call Aladdin® Doors to learn more about our openers.
Secure Your Home Entry
You might think it’s safe to leave your interior door from the garage unlocked. Once your car is in the garage and the garage door opener closes the door, you’re safe, right? Not true! Most burglars will try to get into your house through the front door. If that doesn’t work, they’ll attempt a window or the garage door. Once they figure out a way into the garage, they’ll have clear access to your home! A well-protected home starts with exterior doors that securely lock and secure a garage side door as well. While the front and back doors usually have a deadlock or chain lock for extra security, don’t forget that the interior door needs the same.
Be Discreet
We know how important it is to keep your garage door secure, especially when you’re away for extended periods of time. Your garage is not just for parking your vehicles, however. It can easily become a catch-all for the things you have no place to store, especially if you don’t have a basement or extra room in your home. Many homeowners keep yard tools, bicycles, sporting goods, toys, holiday decorations, and more inside their garage. For smaller, more valuable items such as expensive tools, consider garage storing cabinets that lock. If a thief somehow manages to get into the garage, they won’t be able to grab your treasures on the way out. They’ll be locked up, and out of harm’s reach.
Install Motion-Activated Floodlights
Most home break-ins occur in the darkness of night when intruders think it’s easier to get into your home. If they don’t see any obvious signs of security, it’s a fast job. That’s why it’s effective to install motion-activated floodlights. This type of lighting simply detects someone near the garage, discouraging anyone from making their way inside. While providing lots of unnatural light to a specific area, it attracts attention when it’s on and saves energy when it’s off. LED floodlights have a higher lumen per watt than any other type of lighting, making them high energy efficient. However, when that sudden bright light shines on them, it might make them think twice and move on to another house, which is exactly what you want.
Use Tinted Window Security Film
Another affordable way to add protection against garage break-ins is to use a tinted security film that bonds to your garage door windows, while still letting the light shine through. Designed to obstruct a would-be thief from your valuable possessions, it’s an affordable option rather than installing new impact-resistant windows. Covering your windows with this security window film, the glass will shatter but remain in place, making it more difficult and time-consuming for the burglar to push through the glass quickly. Increase your privacy, especially when people walk past your home to protect it from nosey, prying eyes. While it usually comes in an 8 MM clear safety film, the thicker the film the more protection from an intentional break-in.
Make a Lock Shield
By now you’re learning that it can be easy to break into a garage without using the proper security tips we have provided in this article. A garage door lock shield is a way to secure your garage door, discouraging thieves from gaining entry into your garage. The shield is connected to the arm of the garage door opener. It blocks access to the red emergency release cord, which is often used to manually open the garage door in case the opener or power fails. It’s easy to make. Find a piece of scrap plywood and screw it to the garage door opener’s arm. Then fasten it with two brad nails. A brad nail is thin and is typically used for dense plywood. And now you have a strong garage door lock shield.
Install a Security System
We know that installing a security system is an effective way to protect your house. Whether you secure a lift garage door or are securing a roller door or a standard residential door, you will be safe from anyone trying to enter and access your garage. Studies say that homes without a security system are 300% more likely to be broken into than those with an alarm. If a burglar notices a home security sign in your front yard, they will target another property. On that same note, an alarm system for your garage is just as important as an alarm system for the rest of your home. Affordable, motion-activated, high-quality video cameras with feeds help monitor questionable activity around your home. Take a serious look at garage security systems. It might be the solution you’re looking for.
Ensure Your Garage Doors Are in Good Condition
Your garage door is only as secure as its age and the material it’s made of. That, combined with a top-of-the-line, durable garage door opener, will make a garage door system safer and more dependable. Take a serious look at your garage door, from a security standpoint. Is it warped, rusted, or dented? Is there a tight seal around the weather stripping and bottom rubber seal? Are there any openings that could make it easy for someone to break in? A new garage door improves your curbside and your property value. Plus, replacing the door can provide a 93% return on investment. Getting rid of an outdated garage door is easy, with the broad selection of garage doors from Aladdin® Doors. Ask about our free estimates.
Learn More About Our Secure Garage Doors and Openers Today
If you’re a homeowner with a garage, securing your garage door is critical to keeping your home safe. Planned break-ins occur when someone sees an open garage and targets your home to steal items they’re looking for. Often, thieves will monitor your schedule before they burglarize you. Don’t let this happen to you! Start with a well-constructed garage door, and a professional, durable garage door opener, and add some of the security tips we’ve mentioned here. We wouldn’t even think about leaving the house without ‘locking our door,’ would we? Don’t take the chance and protect your garage door to ensure a safe and secure arrival. Thank you for considering these important safety tips to keep your door secure. Call Aladdin® Doors to find a location near you for garage door sales, service, and security.