Tuesday, 21 July 2020
How secure is your garage?
The garage is designed to house vehicles, but it’s often filled with anything but. From appliances, like washing machines, tumble dryers and freezer chests, to power tools and expensive gym equipment, the garage is home to valuables which are highly sought-after by thieves. And, whether it’s attached to the side of your home or completely separate, the contents you keep inside could be at risk if you don’t secure it properly.
That’s why, in today’s blog, we’re looking at the most common mistakes people make with their garage door security and sharing our top three tips on how to make your garage secure. So, let’s get straight to it.
Common mistakes to avoid
Burglars are savvy. There are many ways they can break into your garage (i.e. using a crowbar to prise the door open, drilling or cutting the lock out completely etc). But they know that older garage doors aren’t as secure as the modern ones that are available today. Now, this isn’t to say that newer garage doors are burglar-proof, and won’t be targeted, but they do come with a range of features that make it difficult for someone to gain entry.
Many homeowners like to keep their garage door key handy so it’s easy for them to access when they need to get things quickly. However, if you’re not locking up properly at night, you’re leaving it wide open to opportunistic criminals and making their job so much easier.
Our best advice?
By all means, leave your garage door ajar if you’re working close-by in the day, but always make sure that you secure it once you’re going out, or even into the house for a tea-break. And, never leave the keys for the garage door lock lying around.
Three ways to secure your garage:
- Shed some light on the exterior of your garage
Burglars like the cover of night as it helps to hide their shady attempts to break into your home. However, outdoor security lighting – particularly motion sensors – is just one example of an excellent burglary deterrent for intruders. These pick up the slightest bit of movement and can help improve garage security.
- Hide your possessions
Not all thieves go in blind for the steal. Most will suss everything out to make the operation as seamless as possible. It may be that they watch from afar and wait to see when all the lights go out, or scan your home for clues (i.e. peeping through uncovered windows or passing in the daytime – when the door is flung wide open – to see what’s on offer).
Make sure that if you keep your car in the garage, you always secure it and take the keys into the house with you as burglars could drive off – without even having to smash a window or hotwire it. You may also want to add parking posts at the bottom of your drive to prevent them getting away scot-free!
- Upgrade your garage door locks
All garage door locks are designed to be secure and durable, however, some are better than others. Often, this depends on the material, opening mechanism and whether it’s manual or automatic.
It’s worth upgrading your existing locks to add an extra line of defence to your garage door. As its name suggests, a garage door defender (with a padlock) is a robust accessory, fitted to the edge of the door, that provides a barrier between thieves and the valuables kept in your garage. This is a great choice if you want to keep burglars out.
Luckily, the LockShop Direct team is always on hand to help and can assist you in choosing the best garage door locks for you.
Ready to take the next step in securing your garage door?
Brilliant – get in touch today! We have unrivalled experience when it comes to garage door security and provide a wide range of quality garage door locks – all manufactured to an exceptionally high standard and available to purchase for a competitive price.
If you would like to know more about the different ways you can secure your garage, don’t hesitate to call 0845 830 0832 or send an email to info@lockshopdirect.co.uk. Our team will gladly share their expertise with you to ensure the contents of your garage is protected against thieves.
Author: Richard Nash
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