Learn These 11 Tips on How to Secure Your Garage Door
The summer season is the best time for more outdoor activities like picnics and other gatherings. But unfortunately, summertime is also the finest period for burglars. And unsurprisingly, front and back doors (particularly garage doors) are the most familiar entry points for thieves. It only takes a short time for a burglar to break into your property. Re-evaluating how secure your garage door is must be a priority to help make your own place safer and a less appealing target for stealers.
How to Secure Your Garage Door
You can secure your property from break-ins with the following proactive garage door security measures:
1. Put Yourself Into a Burglar’s Shoes
This first tip might sound strange, but why not give it a try? In the evening, make time to walk around outside your garage and the rest of your property. By doing this activity at night, you can get a finer idea of how adequate your exterior lighting is. Then imagine how a thief might get into your own place.
Start creating questions like, “Which areas of my property seem the most at risk?” or “How safe is my garage?” It could be useful and informative to try to look at your own place from a burglar’s perspective.
2. Lock Your Overhead Doors and the Door Between Your Own Place and Garage
If you have a manual garage door, you should always keep it locked no matter what.
However, most homes and businesses nowadays have automatic overhead door openers. Still, it’s a good point to use a padlock clamped on one of your door tracks to keep them closed.
Also, it is a good practice to always lock the door between your home or business and your garage. It may be inconvenient, but helpful to make you feel at ease.
3. Cable Tie Your Emergency Door Release
Automated garage door openers contain an emergency release lever. Typically, it has a red cord connected to it. Its main function is to let you open or shut your overhead doors when there’s a blackout.
A cunning burglar, however, knows what to do. They can make enough space on top of your door to access the lever or cord using a wire hook and pull it. Once they have tampered with the release lever, they could open the door and enter your property.
You can secure the release lever with a cable tie to ensure it is safe from intruders. If there is an electrical failure and you have to utilize the emergency lever, cut off the cable tie and replace it when electricity returns.
4. Remember not to Leave Your Garage Doors Open
Indeed, do not leave your garage doors open if it isn’t necessary, because if you do, you seem to send an invitation for unwanted guests to intrude on your property. People passing by can also easily see your stuff in the garage.
Keep your overhead doors closed even if you’re doing something within your property or living in a safe area. Please, take nothing for granted.
Smart garage door openers allow you to monitor your doors whether they are closed or open using a smartphone app. It may be a bit costly but very convenient in securing your property, particularly while you are away.
5. Upgrade Your Obsolete Garage Door Opener
If your door opener is out of date, your garage is more unsafe and prone to a break-in. Clever burglars could gain access to your garage using a device that could simply crack your older opener’s access code.
Moreover, if your neighbor has the same access code as yours, they could open your garage door by accident using their remote button.
So, it would be best if you had a modern automatic garage door opener model that uses the latest technology. Its ‘rolling code’ system generates a new code each time you press the remote button, so it is much more secure.
Also, it’s much less noisy and energy-saving than the old models.
6. Place a Cover Over Your Garage Windows
Intruders could get a good look inside your garage through the overhead door windows, side windows, and even the outer garage service door window. So covering the windows entirely is one good option.
You could also install blinds or curtains exactly made for garage windows. If you prefer getting some light from the sun in the garage, you could put a frosted design over your windows. It allows sunlight in while concealing your stuff inside.
7. Improve Your Property’s Exterior Lighting
A property with deficient exterior lighting becomes a more choice target for thieves. You must ensure that all entry points into your own place are well-lit to keep your property secure.
Today, motion-sensor lights are the best choice for home or business owners. It’s both an energy-efficient and cost-effective method to protect your property.
Ensure to strategically install them around your garage and within your property, approximately 10-12 feet above the ground. A quality motion-activated exterior lighting can detect movement up to 26 feet away.
Do not forget to include your outer lighting inspection on your maintenance checklist.
8. Always Inspect if Your Garage Doors are in Good Shape
Worn garage doors put your property’s safety at risk. Burglars could simply break into your garage through any gaps or openings they see. Hence, inspecting the condition of your doors regularly is a must.
If you are much concerned about your property’s security, do not hesitate to replace your outdated garage doors with modern ones. Feel free to consult a garage door expert to know which door option is best for you.
9. Re-enforce Your Property’s Entry Points
Check all entry points into your home or business, including garage service doors or side doors, the door leading into your building, the front and back doors, and all the windows. They should be sturdy, with a deadbolt lock.
Ensure to keep your garage doors locked, even when you’re present in your building.
10. Never Leave Any Valuables in Your Garage or Cars
One simple tip to bear in mind is to avoid leaving high-value items, including your garage door remote, in your garage or inside your parked vehicles. Store them in the most secured area in your building.
11. Install A Garage Security System
According to experts, properties with an established highly-visible security system are less likely to be picked out by burglars. Thus, placing an alarm system in your garage makes as much sense as having an alarm system in your home or building.
Placing security cameras above the entry points of your garage is another great choice. There are high-quality but affordable motion-activated cameras on the market these days. They start recording as soon as someone approaches or a vehicle pulls into the driveway – even at night.
You can sync your security cameras with your smart home systems as well as smartphones, so you can monitor your garage even when you are away.
Schedule a Consultation with Inland Overhead Door Company
There’s no more unpleasant feeling than discovering your garage or another part of your property has been broken into. Thus, making your garage and garage door more functional and secure is a top priority. No worries, the Inland Overhead Door Company has your back.
Our highly-trained door specialists know how to handle any of your overhead door concerns. If you have further questions about our garage door security system or any of our services, feel free to call us today. Our team is available to serve you in emergencies, 24/7.
