Get smart to keep burglars at bay

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A garage is convenient for parking a vehicle as well as storing household overflow—anything from sports equipment to holiday decorations to lawn and garden tools. You might think you’re keeping everything secure up when you close the garage door, but is it really up to the task?

Whether you’ve got a luxury car or a clunker, or if you’ve got too much “stuff” to even think about fitting so much as a bike inside, these garage door security tips will allow you to rest easy—or go away on vacation—knowing that it’s all off-limits to burglars.

Here are nine garage door security tips to protect your home.

If you have an automatic garage door opener, take precautions to put it in a safe place so that the button doesn’t accidentally get pressed.

If you’ve got a key fob, don’t keep it in a pocket where the mere act of sitting down might activate it. If you leave it out on a table, make sure it’s out of reach of small children or pets who might think it’s a plaything.

Going on vacation? It might be worth it to unplug or otherwise disengage the auto opener in your garage so that there are no problems while you are away.

The Chamberlain Smart Garage Hub is one of the best smart garage door controllers you can buy.

Smart home devices are not only a convenience for homeowners, but they also offer assurance that everything is a-OK at home even when you’re away. A smart garage door opener that you connect to your smartphone or tablet allows you to check in on whether your door is open or shut—in other words, it’s the saving grace for absentminded homeowners.

If you have a keypad on the outside of your home that opens the garage instead of a remote opener, make sure to update the passcode often to bolster your garage door security.

It’s tempting to make it something like 1234 so it’s easy to remember, but it’s one of the first number combinations a burglar will try.

It might also be the same code as your neighbor’s keypad, and it wouldn’t be the first time a garage keypad signal was able to activate another nearby device.

Don't give intruders any ideas when it comes to your home's personal belongings.

If your garage door model has windows, you'll want to cover or obstruct them so that would-be burglars or even nosy neighbors can’t sneak a peek inside even when the door is shut.

There are window treatments for garage windows, but if curtains or blinds aren’t your cup of tea, you could cover them up with tinted or frosted window film instead.

If you like having natural light filtering into your garage, go ahead and choose a translucent film that allows for light, but not sight.

Or try blackout curtains to keep your garage climate cool and comfortable.

If you have an older model garage door that must be opened and shut manually, remember to lock it up before and after you come home.

A closed garage door that is unlocked is a poor deterrent to a burglar. So is an unlocked car door. Be sure to always lock and/or engage the car alarm even when your garage door is lowered.

Burglars tend to case their targets before they execute their plan, so don’t give them an opportunity to get anything more than a glance of the inside of your garage. This one might be difficult if you use your garage as a workspace or overflow storage, but keeping the door closed is especially important if you’ve got expensive tools or workout equipment.

It also bears noting that if your garage has an entrance to your home, you want that door shut quickly, too, so that no one can see how easy it might be to break into the rest of your home through the garage.

In the event of an unexpected power outage, you may need to operate your garage door manually.

Technology is a wonderful thing until it doesn't work anymore. In the event of a malfunction, a power outage, or other event that knocks out power to your garage door, assuming you don't have a portable generator to kick it on, you'll want to know how to manually override it to open and close it safely so that it’s not left wide open.

This is especially important for attached garages, as you are leaving the rest of your home vulnerable to forced entry as well.

Your vehicle is arguably the most expensive item in your garage, but it’s not the only thing burglars are looking for when they break in.

That’s why it’s important to store things strategically so that expensive items like power tools and sports equipment are not left out in the open to be grabbed easily.

Consider installing garage storage cabinets with locks as a deterrent, and remember to always lock your car doors.

Regular maintenance will keep your garage door running in tip-top shape.

If your door has seen better days, you could have a soft target for burglars. While you might not be eager to shell out money for a new garage door, it might be the best way to secure your belongings.

Here’s some good news: According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2022 Cost vs. Value Report, a new garage door tops the list of home improvements that pay off well at resale.

In fact, a new garage door could offer you nearly 94% return on investment, so it’s worth the trouble.

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