If you’re a homeowner who has a garage full of valuables, such as lawn and gardening tools, home appliances, cars and other family valuables, how are you keeping it secure? Even though you might keep other valuables like jewelry and collectable items inside your home, in a safe, this isn’t something that you would typically store in your garage. However, you may actually have just as much valuables in your garage as you do in your safe and not even realize it. Whether or not you have valuables in your home or inside your garage, you should be aware of just how cleaver criminals are today. They know how easy it is to gain access, not only into your garage but also into your home via your garage. A thief is aware of security systems and how they operate and what areas of your home they affect. They even know that most garage doors are not protected with your security system. Most systems are only programmed to alert the homeowners or proper authority if windows or doors of the home have been compromised. It might not be as easy to keep your garage door secure but it is certainly possible.
If you’re thinking seriously about intrusion into your home via your garage, then perhaps you should consider the type of door you have. A much more practical and durable option would be a steel door or a roll up door. These add for added protection against intrusions.
You might think that your garage door opener is your lock but in actuality, it isn’t. A lock would secure the structure of the door. A basic door lock will not do this. Burglars are able to effectively break through any type of traditional lock. To protect your garage door, you will need to invest in a durable, heavy-duty deadbolt lock. This type of lock will often deter a criminal. This type of lock will take far too long for them to break through, if they are able to do so at all. Deadbolt locks are known for their level of durability and can be a great addition to your existing door lock.
Additional locks that are good to install on garage doors include the following:
Secure your doors with a padlock after placing a bar across the exterior door. The padlock should be made of a thick metal and sturdy.
Bolts are also referred to as deadbolts but in this case, we are suggesting that you install a bolt through the tracks of your garage. You’ll have to remember to remove the bolt when coming and going.
Use concrete anchors to prevent the door from being opened from outside.
While our locksmiths at Everett Lock and Key in Everett, Washington would strongly discourage installing a garage door with windows, there are some steps you can take to keep burglars from peering inside. Many thieves want to case out their victim’s home prior to taking the chance of being caught. This means that if you have windows, they can look right inside to see what you have that might be of value to them. Rather than allowing them to do this, we suggest that you tint the window or put something over them from the inside. Even if they make the assumption that you have valuable stored inside your garage, they will be less likely prone to break in without knowing for sure. They will simply bypass your home and go to a home where they know they have a good chance of getting something of value. We think tinting your windows is an investment that is well worth the effort.
We already discussed having a security system and how effective it can be to keep burglars out of your home if they try to access it through a door or window. However, there are ways to secure your garage door, if it is not included in your security system.
It really isn’t as difficult as many may think it is to secure your garage door. If you have windows on your garage, make sure no one can see inside. If there is a side door, secure it. If you can add a lock and bar to your garage, do it. Your automatic door opener has tons of features, which make it possible for you to secure your door. You should definitely take the time to consult the manual or consult with a local locksmith who is familiar with the many ways thieves gain access into your home through your garage. They may be able to offer you more suggestions about keeping your garage door secure than we have already highlighted.
If you have loved ones and other valuables that you wish to protect, you can never have too much security for your home. Do yourself a favor by checking your homes level of security, annually. You shouldn’t allow a year to go by without allowing a professional locksmith access the level of security you have in and around your home. They will be able to tell you for certain exactly where there are security breeches and just what it will take to better secure the area. Set aside a budget every year to improve your homes level of security. Securing your garage should be at the top of your ‘to do’ list if it isn’t already. Be proactive and avoid an unpleasant situation from occurring that can ultimately be avoided. Sleep peacefully and maintain your peace-of-mind.
It is very simple to keep your garage secure. Make sure all doors and windows are secure and locked. You can make your automatic door opener more secure by changing the combination to of the electronic lock. Read your owner’s manual or contact the place where it was bought or built to find out how. Add a deadbolt to the door that leads out of the garage as well as to the door between your home and the garage. If you have a window, plant some sort of pointy bush beneath it, so it is difficult and painful to reach the window. Always keep the garage door closed if you are not around to keep an eye on it, even if you are only running out for a short time.
Once you know how to keep your garage secure, you are taking a big step towards keeping your home secure.