How to keep your garage secure

Garage doors are often a weak point in home security and can give thieves easy access to a home. According to a report by ASecureLife, almost 10% of burglars break in via the garage, so it is important that homeowners take a few preventative measures to secure and reinforce doors, windows and other entry points to enhance security.

Cover and bar windows

People often fail to secure their garage adequately as they focus primarily on the main entry point, the door. While it is important to have a strong front end, there are usually other aspects to garage security that are overlooked. To prevent prying eyes from viewing what is in the garage, cover any glass windows with shades, curtains or blinds and apply translucent film to maintain light levels but obscure vision. It is also recommended to bar windows with cheap steel pipe sourced from a local hardware store. Fixing several of these pipes vertically across the window space will prevent thieves from entering if they break the glass.

Reinforce doors and locks

When windows and other entry points have been sealed and secured, it is time to take a closer look at the garage door. Just being closed is not sufficient, as crooks often use wire hooks and gadgets to pry the door open. To prevent this act of ‘fishing’, install a shield using plywood and lock the emergency release with a plastic tie. It is also important to keep it locked at all times, so try and install a high quality dead bolt so that thieves cannot brute force their way into a home. Opt for a Grade 2 lock if possible, as this will enhance security. A dead bolt will work best alongside a reinforced door, so strengthen the entry point by installing a metal lock reinforcer and a strong strike plate attached to the wall, which can both be found at home centers and hardware stores. You can also contact specialists for your garage door spring replacement and other services.

Lighting and sensors

Other tactics to prevent burglars, such as bright lighting, can supplement strong security installments. Thieves may think twice about attempting a break in if light fixtures with motion detectors are installed, as the brightness might make them nervous and attract attention to their actions. Surprisingly, many homeowners also still forget to shut their garage doors, so installing a garage sensor can be a great resource for telling them whether the door is open or closed. For additional security, purchase automatic door closers. These simple and cost effective sensors only require low voltage wiring and take less than an hour to install.

Invest in a keychain remote opener that can be latched onto other keys if you have an automatic garage door, as you are less likely to drop it or leave it outside or in your car, which could give burglars an incentive to break into your vehicle and home.

It is also important to carry out regular maintenance on any mechanical parts of the garage, any equipment used, as well as frames, locks, hinges and other replaceable items so that they do not pose a security risk. Continue to test the vulnerabilities and systems regularly to keep a garage secure over the long term.