How to Make A Garage Door More Secure

When it comes to securing garage doors, there are numerous factors that every homeowner needs to keep in mind. While most people want to make their garage doors stylish & more attractive, it is still important to make sure that they’re properly secured. Furthermore, just because you’re using roller door locks for your garage door doesn’t automatically imply that your valuables are safe inside. In reality, a robber can break into your garage door and steal your personal belongings in just a matter of minutes. 

Here are some of the most helpful statistics that you need to know about burglaries from REOlink’s data:

• There are 2.5 million burglaries every year.
• 34% of burglars enter the property using the front door.
• 4% of burglars are going to enter through an entrance left unlocked.
• 9% of burglars will enter a property through the garage.
• 22% of burglars break in through a window on the first floor.
• Only 27% of burglaries occur when someone is present at home.
• Burglaries between 6 pm and 10 pm only account for 17%.
• Your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system.
• Only 17% of homes have a home security system.
• Shockingly, 85% of burglars will know their victims.
• 51% of homes suffer another burglary within one month of the first break-in.
• Over 40% of burglars admit their break-in was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Considering the burglary statistics shown above, you have to take the necessary steps in order to prevent potential burglary. While keeping your garage door shut is probably the most basic way to avoid garage door break-ins, this method doesn’t always work against thieves that utilize tricks to disengage standard garage lock and security features. Fortunately, there are heaps of ways that you can do to make your garage door more secure than ever. Here are some of the best ways on how to secure garage doors:

1. Avoid Leaving Your Garage Door Open

Simply reminding yourself to never leave your garage door open, is one of the most basic things you can do to increase your security. When you’re actively walking in and out of the house, it’s quite easy to forget to lock it or keep it closed. If you have a habit of failing to shut the garage door, try adding a timer that will lock it automatically after a particular timeframe, even though you drive down the road or go to bed without shutting it manually. Many new home security devices are equipped with garage door openers, which you can use to open and shut the garage door while you’re not at home.

2. Don’t Keep Your Garage Door Key Inside Your Car

Another quick way to secure your garage is to never hold the garage door key or remote in your vehicle at all times. There are numerous choices for securing a house, but there are only a few accessible options for cars. Thieves can easily gain entry to your home with a stolen garage door key or remote. To avoid leaving your garage door key or remote in your car, you can purchase a compact and easy-to-carry keyfob remote from your security provider.

3. Keep Your Garage Loud With Music When You’re Not at Home

Keep a radio on or play some music in the garage, particularly when you’re not at home. This may appear to be an old trick from a book, but it’s still extremely effective to this day. Not to mention, many home invasions occur due to clear signs that a home is vacant or unprotected. When a thief senses that someone is at home or working in the garage, they will usually flee. Maintaining a small radio on low volume provides the illusion of movement, which could be enough to discourage a possible home invader.

4. Be Mindful To Secure The Emergency Garage Door Release

Emergency release features are often common on modern garage doors. If you have one, make it to secure it properly. Thieves can gain access to garage doors by triggering the release with a wire from the outside. This trick is equivalent to breaking into a car door. Not to mention, this emergency release feature can no longer be unlocked from the outside after being secured with zip ties. However, it can also be used from the inside because the zip ties can be easily cut.

5. Secure Your Garage Door Windows

If your garage doors have windows, covering them with interior curtains or frosted film is an effective way to heighten your security. Installing such covers can prevent thieves from seeing what’s inside your garage and eventually reduce the possibility of a break-in. Taking the appropriate measures to ensure the overall protection of your garage door windows is something that you should never neglect. Also, keep in mind that the fewer visibility thieves have into your garage, the lesser the chance they’ll break into your home.

 6. Utilize Motion-Activated Lighting Security Equipment

Install motion-activated lighting. It’s handy for you to have lighting that turns on when someone enters your driveway or garage door, plus it adds an extra layer of security in case somebody is lurking around your premises. Motion-activated lighting will discourage thieves while still alerting you that someone is nearby. You can also mount a peephole or a home security camera that has enough lighting to allow you to see into your garage. When you hear suspicious noises in your garage, this will help you see what’s going on and make better choices about what to do next in case a heist is ongoing. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to see anything in the garage if it’s dark, therefore motion-sensing lighting can help. Having a good view of the garage at a glance will give more time and information to carefully respond in the event of a break-in.

7. Avoid Using Exterior Keypad To Lock Your Garage Door

If possible, avoid using an exterior keypad. On the outside of the house, a lot of garage doors have a security keypad that can be unlocked using a code. While it may be improbable for someone to guess the code, it is still not worth the risk. Desperate burglars will not have a problem breaking the device or removing the batteries just to gain access to your home. It’s safer to avoid using this type of garage door lock and just use a garage door remote just like your car keys for increased security.

8. Take Advantage of a Modern Garage Door Lift System

Though remote-controlled lift systems were convenient in the beginning, they had serious security vulnerabilities. Remotes can be quickly breached, enabling burglars to open a garage door without even accessing it using a universal remote. This is why rolling code technology was developed by garage security manufacturers to solve this problem. Any time you utilize your remote, it creates a new security code for the lift. Moreover, consider modifying your email password on a regular basis. Although that would require you to be more mindful about your security, that is just what these modern lift remotes are designed to do.

9. Maintain Your Garage Door Regularly

A garage door that has been disregarded is more vulnerable to break-ins. Rusted bolts and hinges make it possible for a burglar to physically crack through the protection of a door. This is regular maintenance of your garage security is essential. Regular maintenance also enables you to use the most up-to-date garage door security technology, making your door even safer. Finally, cleaning the garage door on a daily basis is an ideal way to prolong its life. It not only enhances the overall quality of your doors but also improves security and protection.

10. Invest in High-Quality Garage Doors

You can invest in a garage door made of high-quality materials, especially if you really want it to be more secure than it is now. It’s also a lot easier to physically bust through a cheap door made of low-grade material. On the other hand, t would be much more difficult for burglars to get through a garage door made of high-quality wood or metal. This investment would increase the value of your home in ways that go beyond safety. Higher-quality doors also last longer and need less maintenance. 

Key Takeaways for Securing Your Garage Doors

The majority of burglaries are carried out by conscientious criminals who plot their crimes during the times when they are least likely to be discovered. That means they walk around the community on particular days of the week, observing homes with dogs, surveillance systems, and lengthy periods of time when a family is not present in their homes. This is why it is extremely essential to equip your residence with a strong security system that will prevent burglars from entering your garage door. If you happen to have a garage at your workplace, consider installing live surveilance security camera to keep the area protected. By following the tips and methods that we’ve outlined above, you will be able to enhance the overall garage door security and reduce or even fully prevent break-ins from happening while you’re asleep or away from home.