January 19, 2015

Securing Your Garage

House plan with key

Your garage houses valuable items, such as your tools, sports equipment and your vehicle. Of course you want to keep them safe, but at the same time, you don’t want to keep them inside your home. Because your garage is separate from the rest of the house and is often used as a main entrance and exit, it is particularly vulnerable.

Even if you live in a “nice” neighborhood, an open garage is like an open invitation to prospective burglars. Here are a few ways you can protect your garage – and your valuables – against break-ins and attempted theft.

Keep the Door Closed and Locked at all Times

Even when you’re home, you should always keep your garage door closed. This way you will avoid displaying your valuables to passersby. When you’re away, make sure to close and lock all of the windows in your garage, as well as all doors leading to and from your garage, especially if they’re connected to your house. If the door from the garage to your home is equipped with a deadbolt, this added layer of protection is even better.

Use Window Treatments

Blinds or curtains not only make your garage more attractive, but also help conceal its contents from prying eyes. If you need to maximize the amount of natural light, you can use sheers or other solutions that allow light to enter from outside, but don’t allow viewing of what’s inside.

Ensure Adequate Lighting

When your garage is well-lit, this discourages prospective burglars, as they know they will be readily visible while stealing your property. Lights should be installed around all doors and windows, as well as outside of your garage. Outside lighting and landscape lighting not only make your home more attractive, but also make it more secure.

If you want to conserve energy and keep your electricity bills low, you have various options, such as solar lights, gas lights and motion-activated lights. An added advantage of floodlights triggered by a motion detector is that they alert you and your neighbors that someone is there – something a prospective burglar wouldn’t want you to know.

Protect Your Security Code

If you use a keypad to open and close your garage door, you should never share the code with anyone unless it’s absolutely necessary, in which case it should be someone you know you can trust. Even then, you should change your code regularly and avoid using things like your phone number or birthdate, which people might easily guess. Just as you protect your PIN while making a purchase or performing a banking transaction, you should prevent anyone from seeing the numbers you enter.

Hang on to Your Keys

Although many people leave an extra set of keys in their car or some other hiding place, this is not a good idea. If your car is broken into and the person knows or figures out where you live, he or she will have easy access to your garage and therefore your home. If you use a remote to open your garage door, a keychain-type remote is a great option, as you can carry it with you in your pocket or your purse.

Have a Security System Installed

These days, there is a wide selection of available alarm systems, ranging from the simple to the sophisticated. A sensor that makes an audible warning when the door is open or when someone passes by can discourage potential burglars. There are also door sensors that send out a silent alarm to a remote monitor or receiver whenever the garage door is opened. Some garage door openers can monitor the opening and closing of the door, while others are equipped with features such as self-closing systems. You can even integrate many of today’s openers with a smartphone or other mobile device, allowing you to open and close your garage door remotely.

Purchase a High-Quality Garage Door

A well-constructed garage door fulfils a variety of useful purposes. It protects the inside of your garage against the elements, keeps your vehicle and other property, like sports equipment or tools, out of sight and adds curb appeal to your home. We offer versatile models, perfectly suited to every need, with the ideal balance of form and function. Our most attractive models, such as the Cambridge with its raised panels and the Eastman with its blend of elegance and rustic appeal, are made of galvanized steel 1 ¾”-inch thick. Conversely, our most robust commercial-grade models, which are made of 23-gauge hot galvanized steel and reinforced around all handles and hinges with 14-gauge plates, present a clean, modern appearance. Our commercial doors are available with two or four grooves, and there are also several window options to choose from, including no windows at all, as in the model G-2000.

Hide Your Remote Control in Your Car

Don’t leave your garage door remote hooked to your sun visor. Hide it in your glove compartment or some other storage place in your car. If someone were to break in to your vehicle and find your registration showing your address, it would be very easy for that person to come to your residence and attempt to enter illegally.

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