6 Steps to Making Your Garage Safe and Secure
Most of us spend lots of money and effort in making our homes secure. But even so, the security of our garages is often overlooked. That’s rather ironic, because many home break-ins occur through the garage. It’s likely that your garage, in fact, is quite vulnerable to a break-in.
But by following these 6 steps, you can make your garage just as secure as the rest of your home:
#1: Have a Home Security System Installed
If you’re like many homeowners, you already have a security system installed for your home. Why not install one for your garage as well? It can be connected to the security system in your home, and provide the same level of protection that your home system provides.
#2: Don’t Put Your Goodies On Display
You probably have lots of ‘stuff’ and equipment stored in your garage. Who doesn’t? Some of what’s stored in your garage might be quite valuable. And that makes your garage a more tempting target for thieves. But if thieves don’t know what’s in your garage, they’re less likely to go through the effort and risk of breaking in.
So don’t let them know what’s in your garage. Keep the windows covered. You can use blinds or curtains, just as you do in your home. Or you can apply translucent films to your window glass. They’ll let some light in while preventing a clear view of what’s in your garage.
#3: Install Motion-Detecting Lights
Odds are good that you already have motion-detecting lights installed around the perimeter of your home. But what about your garage? Consider installing some of these lights both outside and inside of your garage.
#4: Make Your Garage Door Secure
Compared to all the other doors in your home, your garage door locking mechanism is probably quite simple and relatively easy to foil for an experienced thief. And that makes your entire home more vulnerable. Because in most homes, once access is gained to the garage, getting into the home is much easier.
You can beef up your garage door’s resistance to a break-in with one or more of the following:
- Add a deadbolt to your garage door
- Install a padlock with a programmed entry code
- Consider upgrading your door to one with a more solid structure. Solid wood and metal doors are the most secure.
#5: Don’t Make It Easy
Many homeowners have the habit of leaving the garage door opener remote control in their cars, whether parked inside or out. That’s like leaving your house key sticking in the lock – it’s an open invitation to thieves. Though keeping your remote in your car is convenient, it exposes you to risk.
As an alternative, consider getting a small keychain remote to replace your standard remote. That way you’ll always have easy access to your remote, but thieves won’t be able to get their hands on it (unless you lose your keys!).
#6: Make Sure Your Door Stays Closed
An open garage door is an open invitation to thieves. And yet many homeowners frequently leave their garages open and unattended – often just through neglect or forgetfulness.
One way to prevent that is by installing a timer. A garage door timer can be connected to your automatic opening system, and can be set to automatically close your door after it’s been open for a specified interval. That way you won’t have to worry about kids (or forgetful adults) leaving your door open.