Burglaries are a common crime; in the US alone, a burglary occurs every 13 seconds. While the front and back doors are an obvious target, the garage and windows are the next weakest links. Your house is as secure as its most vulnerable entry point. Many houses have attached garages. As such, even if your home security systems are top-notch, but you somehow neglect your garage security, your efforts will be in vain.
Are you 100% positive you’ve done all you could to ensure you’ll never get a visit from the most unwanted “guests?” The answer is probably no, and that’s ok! In this article, you’ll learn what to do to make your garage (and, by extension, your home) more secure. Without any further ado, let’s get into it!
Light up the Area
One of the most effective ways to increase the security of your home and garage is to install outdoor lighting. Experts from A1 Garage recommend installing motion-detecting floodlights because a sudden burst of light can act as an effective deterrent.
Place the lighting strategically around your garage and home perimeter. Install it 10-12 feet above the ground, and a burglar won’t be able to deactivate it. Sure, a neighbor’s cat or a bird can activate it from time to time. Nevertheless, motion-detecting exterior lights are a must for many homeowners.
Lock All Doors
This one should be a no-brainer, yet many people simply don’t lock their doors on a regular basis. This includes the front and the back doors, the garage doors, and the doors between your garage and living space. As such, intruders can enter your garage and home with little to no effort.
Do you live in a home with an attached garage? If locking the door isn’t a part of your baseline, consider changing that habit! Before you leave, close the back door and the door to the garage. Make sure your front door is locked and do the same with the garage door. You may be taking out your car for just a couple of hours and be tempted to keep the door open for convenience. However, burglars don’t need much time to assess the situation and gain access, especially if the entry points are habitually left open.
Keep Your Garage Windows Closed
Just like in the case of garage doors or any doors that connect your garage space and your home, closing your garage windows before you leave is extremely important. Burglars can use an open window to their advantage and gain access to your garage with little to no effort.
Remember to close your garage windows, especially when you’re going to work or on vacation. If there’s nobody to keep an eye on your house and you’re going to be absent for a couple of hours or more, open windows make your garage an easy target.
Install Smash-Proof Glass or Garage Window Bars
Garage windows are one of the weakest links in your garage. However, there are effective ways to protect them and deter potential burglars from tampering with them. One solution is to install window bars. It’s impossible to squeeze through them, and if they’re made of high-quality material, they’ll be hard to remove.
Additionally, consider installing smash-proof glass windows. Potential burglars are not afraid to break the glass and make some noise, but a resistant barrier can deter them from making any shady attempts.
Carry Your Garage Door Opener with You
Surprisingly, many people leave their garage door openers in their cars, be it in plain sight or in the glove compartment. For sure, it’s convenient. However, a glove compartment is the first place potential burglars would check.
Don’t take your chances and start carrying your remote opener with you. It’s one of the easiest ways to eliminate this home security risk!
Install Security Cameras
Installing security cameras is one of the best ways to protect your home and garage from break-ins. This solution is very effective in deterring would-be burglars, because they know even a cheap camera can record their physical attributes such as facial features, their clothes, or even a car and their license plates if they’re not “cautious” enough.
A good idea is to install a camera that’s activated by motion and starts recording as soon as someone approaches on foot or a car pulls up to the driveway. For good measure, choose a camera with high-quality resolution, so that the images won’t be grainy, especially in the case of some night footage.
The Bottom Line
Coming back from work or vacation and discovering that your garage or home has been broken into is something everyone dreads. Burglaries and thefts happen extremely often, and intruders know how to exploit any weak spots. However, these tips should help you assess if you have to make some changes to increase the safety of your home and garage. The number of break-ins during the summer months increases in comparison to other seasons. As such, stay vigilant, and if there’s anything you can do right now to make your garage secure, don’t wait!
