A garage door is a major entry point for your home. For some reason, the size and scope of garage doors tend to lull us into thinking that they are somehow more secure than other doors. However, without the right security precautions, garage doors offer a perfect way for intruders to enter your home uninvited.
First things first. If your garage door is twenty years old or older, you simply need to replace it. That’s a big expense to swallow, but it’s far less than the cost of burglary. Older garage doors simply aren’t as secure, and fundamentally there’s just no way to get them there. It’s a worthy investment for your peace of mind.
Here are six ways to improve garage door security.
1. Lock your car
Most of us leave our garage door openers in the overhead compartment of our vehicle. All it takes is a smart thief to nab that remote and have access to your home.
2. Lock interior doors
It’s tempting to feel secure and leave that interior door that leads into the garage unlocked, but it’s not safe. Always, always lock your interior garage door.
3. Lock your garage doors
At night and when you leave the house, make your garage door part of your safety check. People often just forget!
4. Close your garage door when you’re away
Even if you’re just running across the street to borrow a cup of sugar from a neighbor – lock your door!
5. NEVER give out your security code
If your door has a lock with a security code, don’t give that code to anyone. Reset it if you have had to give it to someone, like a service provider or a house sitter.
6. Add exterior lighting
This can be a powerful way to prevent break-ins. Simply install high-quality security lighting to your home’s exterior, in particular around the garage door area. This is a huge deterrent.
These six tips will help you to keep your garage and your home safe and secure!
From a burglar’s perspective, your garage door is the best way to enter your house. Believe it or not, it will only take 6 seconds for a burglar to break into your house through your garage! But if you have installed garage door sensors, you can easily monitor your garage. They are designed to alarm and notify you of any unauthorized garage entry.