Garages are often used to store valuables such as cars, tools and equipment. Unfortunately they can also be a target for burglars and intruders
Burglars love garages for 3 reasons.
1 – They’re easier to break into than your house due to the relative lack of security.
2 – Your front and back doors might have good locks, but garages usually don’t.
3 – Plus the garage roller door has a couple of security flaws, which can be exploited by a semi-skilled intruder to gain access in less than a minute. Read point 1 below for more details
If your garage has a pedestrian door leading to the backyard, it provides another easy entry point for intruders. It is crucial to address these vulnerabilities to ensure the safety and security of your property.
Nothing To Steal
Believe it or not, garages now the second place an intruder will look for items to steal when he breaks into a home. (The first place is the top left hand drawer in the master bedroom. That’s where he’ll look for your jewelry and other expensive items.)
Remember his ‘job’ is to make money by stealing cash, or things he can quickly sell for cash.
In the ‘olden days’ this would include TVs, stereos and other audio equipment, DVD players and games consoles.
None of those items have any resale value today because no one buys those things second hand anymore. They’re so inexpensive to buy brand new.
Even laptops, iPads and smartphones don’t get stolen anywhere near as much as they did in the recent past for the same reason.
Would you buy a second hand laptop from a stranger?
I can get a reasonable powerful laptop with all the features I need for under $500.00 at any department or office supply store.
The garage however can often have stuff that’s easy to sell.
Items such as power tools, bicycles, gardening equipment and camping gear are still able to be sold and converted to quick cash.
Easy Access to Your House
Once the intruder is in the garage, its very easy for him to get into the house if it’s attached to the house and has direct access.
The door between the garage and the house is usually an ‘internal grade’ door with low-quality locks, which you may not even use.
Beefing up the security in your garage can help protect your belongings and give you peace of mind.
Simple Security Measures
There are several types of garage security systems and measures you can take to secure your garage they don’t cost a fortune.
For example, if you already have a home security system you (or your trusted alarm installer) can easily extend it to include the garage.
If you don’t have a system I make some recommendations on a good quality system that can include some or all of the following recommendations.
You can install it yourself or have a professional installer do it for you.
Either way these steps will almost guarantee that an intruder will leave your place alone and move on to an easier target.
Remove the ‘manual release’ cord
Garage doors typically have an emergency release mechanism, often a cord with a red handle, hanging down from the door opener motor. It’s there for a very important reason – it provides a way for you to open the garage door during a power failure.
This cord typically hangs down from the guide track of the door opener and when pulled, disconnects the door from the opener. This allows the door to be opened manually in case of a power outage or malfunctioning opener.
Now, imagine you’re an intruder (just for this explanation, of course). What you’d need is something thin and flexible, like a coat hanger. Here’s what you could do:
- You’d bend the coat hanger into a hook at one end.
- You’d then slide it in between the top of the garage door and the door frame.
- You’d carefully maneuver it until the hook catches the emergency release cord.
- With a swift pull, the cord is activated, and the door is disconnected from the automatic opener.
- You can then simply lift the garage door manually, gaining entry into the garage.
Now, knowing this, what you really want to do is protect yourself from this happening. Here are a couple of tips:
- You could install a shield that blocks the gap between the door and the frame, preventing anything from being inserted.
- Consider removing the emergency release handle while still leaving the cord. This way, even if someone managed to hook the cord, they can’t get enough leverage to pull it down.
- Upgrade to a modern, more secure garage door opener if possible. Some newer models come with features that prevent such break-ins.
- Always lock the door leading from your garage to your home.
Securing Garage Remote Controls
Garage remote controls might seem insignificant, but they can be a gateway for thieves. Treat them like keys to your garage and keep them secure. Don’t leave them in your car where they can be easily accessed by intruders. Instead, carry them with you or use a keychain remote that attaches to your keys.
If you want to take security up a notch, opt for a remote control system with rolling code technology. This technology changes the access code each time you use the remote, making it nearly impossible for thieves to intercept and duplicate the code.
Extend your existing home security system to include the garage
If you have a security system in your house, add a motion sensor to the garage. This could be a hard-wired or wireless sensor depending on cable access.
Have alarm system programmed so you can have alerts from the garage sensor armed while the rest of the house is disarmed. Now you can be alerted if someone enters the garage even when you’re home.
Speak to your home security systems installer or have a friend recommend one.
Add a Loud ‘Screamer Siren To Your Garage
Intruders hate noise. It attracts unwanted attention and limits his ability to hear someone coming to investigate. Aloud ‘screamer’ siren should be triggered when any of your garage security sensors are tripped.
Pro Tip: You should also program your system so that this screamer is the only one that activates if an intruder gets into your garage while you’re sleeping.
You don’t want all the sirens in the house to activate when you’re home. Doing so is less effective – the loud noise in the home creates confusion and stops you thinking clearly.
The intruder however will cop the full force of the screamer and will probably leave immediately.
Add a Garage Door Sensor To The Garage Door
This will do two things to increase garage door security
1 – It will trigger the alarm if you leave your garage door open
2 – It can be set up to alert you if you’ve accidently left the garage door open. I’ve come home from work more than once to find the garage door wide open because I’ve forgotten to close it.
And you don’t have to have the alarm turned on to receive these notifications – they work 24/7.
Get The App For Your Alarm System
If you home alarm was installed in the last 5 years there is probably an app available for it.
The app will alert you if:
- An intruder enters your garage or house
- If you’ve left the garage door open
You’ll also be able to arm and disarm your alarm system and check it’s status from the app.
Most alarm apps are free however there are some that require a monthly subscription
Most systems require an add-on module to allow the alarm panel to access the internet. You can do this yourself or have a professional installer do it for you.
You could also opt for a professional monitoring service to ensure a guaranteed response to a break-in.
Laminated Security Film
If your garage has a window add transparent security film. This DIY product reinforces the glass and makes it difficult for an intruder to smash. The intruder won’t want to spend long trying to smash through the laminated glass. He’ll most likely move on to an easier target.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/pillar-1-2-x-2-4m-security-clear-adhesive-window-film_p3962497
Adding a wireless ‘shock’ or ‘vibration’ sensor to the garage window will ensure the alarm is triggered as soon as the intruder strikes the glass.
Add an Output Module to your Garage Security System
This allows you to control your smart garage door opener from your smartphone via your alarm app See point 5 above. Imagine you’ve received an alert informing you that the garage door is still open. Perhaps another family member has accidentally opened it or left the house and forgotten to close it.
You could ring a friend or someone who lives with you to get them to close it.
Or you could press a button on the phone and close it from wherever you are.
Automatically Remove Power to your Garage Door When You Arm the Alarm System
Now we’re getting serious!
Hackers can get a low cost device on the internet that can be used open your garage door. Its a portable wireless device they can operate from their car parked outside your home. If that wasn’t bad enough, the device can also be used to unlock the door of you car.
Here’s a link to just one of many websites that offer the device with full details of how to use it
https://ifoedit.com/garagehack.html
To protect yourself against this type of intrusion your garage security system, can be set up to disconnect the mains power from your garage door whenever you arm the alarm system
If the door has no power it can’t be opened by these hacking devices.
Its not as complicated as it might seem but is best left to a serious do-it-yourself-er or professional installation
Add a Low Cost CCTV Camera
The advantages are obvious but I’m going to mention them list them anyway:
- If you receive an alarm from the garage, you can check the camera to verify if it’s an intruder or a family member. Instant verification.
- If it’s an intruder, you can call the police and inform them you have visual verification of an intruder on your property.
If you receive a ‘Garage Door Still Open’ alarm you can visually check that it is in fact open.
More importantly you can check that there are no obstructions under the door before you close it using the app.
Use Your Existing Security System Or Try One Of These…
As I mentioned earlier, your existing security system can be made to carry out most if not all of the measures discussed.
If you don’t already have a system or your system is too old to have these enhancements here’s a couple of systems I would recommend:
Hikvision Axiom Pro
This system is completely wireless. You can easily set it up yourself in an hour or so, even if you’ve never installed a security system before.
Quickly add the sensors and any other devices you need by scanning the devices QR code with the free app (no monthly fees).
It can handle all the security enhancements mentioned in this article and lots more. If you’re going to use the Ax Pro to protect your garage, you could easily add two or three extra motion sensors and protect the house as well.
The house and garage can be armed and disarmed independently.
One of the features I like most of all with the Ax Pro is the Camera Integration.
Simply add a Hikvision camera to your system using the app and link it to a motion sensor.
When the sensor detects movement, the camera will record a 30 second HD clip and send it to your smartphone as an alert.
Really useful, and no other system offers this feature ia wireless DIY system
Of course you can have the system installed by a professional alarm installer as well.
Bosch Solution 6000
This powerful system is really a fully programmable controller that can handle the security for your home and garage as well as provide automation functions using macros. By setting up ‘if-then’ statements all sorts of security and automation functions are available if you use your imagination.
I would recommend professional installation for this system. Once the job is completed, the installer can provide you with some education to enable you to tweak and customise the system from the PC based management software.
Skylink
I’ve been raving about this wireless DIY system for a long time.
While not as comprehensive as the the first two systems, this home security system is packed with useful features including:
The BEST free app currently available
Wireless ’tilt’ switch to detect if the garage door is open or closed
Window sensors
Door sensors
Motion sensors
Wireless sirens
Wireless codepad
Remote control
Designed for raid DIY Installation
Read more about the Skylink system here
Choosing the Right Garage Security System
Before choosing a system for your garage it’s important to assess your needs
Consider the types of items you’re storing in your garage, the location of your garage and the level of security and ‘convenience’ features you’re looking for.
You should also consider factors like ease of installation and cost. Once you’ve worked out what you need you can research different systems and consult with a professional to choose the right one for you.
What Are You Waiting For…
You’ve just gained some serious knowledge and practical steps to kick those thieves to the curb and secure your garage like a boss.
Garage security is no joke, my friend.
It’s time to step up your game and show those would-be burglars that your fortress is impenetrable.
By taking action and staying on top of things, you’re creating a fortress of security for your precious belongings.
Get ready to bask in the sweet satisfaction of knowing your garage is untouchable. Go ahead, celebrate like the security boss you are!