How to Make Sure Your Garage Is Safe

For many homeowners, a garage is more than just a place to keep the family vehicles out of the rain. A garage also serves as an additional storage area for all types of household items. And attached garages often include interior doors that lead into the home.

These factors make a garage a prime target for thieves who are looking to steal your stored items or use the garage as an entry point to the interior of your home. If you haven’t made garage security a high priority, you could become the next victim of a neighborhood burglar.

How to Secure a Garage

There are several ways to secure a garage and make it less attractive to thieves:

Secure the door: Are you one of those homeowners who never lock their garage door or leave it open for hours at a time? This is like sending an open invitation to a burglar! Make your garage door is as secure as any other external door — and that means installing a high-quality lock (preferably a deadbolt model) and replacing an aging door with one made from sturdy materials such as metal, solid wood or fiberglass. Also, always keep the door closed when you’re not using the garage, especially when no one is home.

Cover the windows: Garage doors with windows at the top or sides allow would-be burglars to see the valuables you’re storing inside. Covering the windows with blinds or curtains keeps your items out of sight and removes the temptation for thieves. Another option is to apply an opaque film on the window glass that lets sunlight in but keeps people from seeing inside.

Install exterior lighting: Installing a spotlight above the garage will deter burglars during the nighttime hours. Another option is using motion-activated lights featuring infrared sensors that can detect body heat, which causes the light to go on when an intruder approaches the garage.

Keep an eye on the remote: Do you have one of those remote garage door openers that clips to your car’s sun visor? If you park your car in the driveway instead of the garage, a thief could gain access to the remote and use it to open the door. A better way to secure your garage is to take the remote inside the house with you. You can also purchase a smaller keychain-style remote that eliminates the need to carry around a larger model.

Install a comprehensive home security system: A home security system equipped with surveillance cameras, motion detectors and burglar alarms that also includes coverage for your garage will significantly reduce your risk of a burglary or home invasion. The best systems include professional monitoring that ensures the prompt dispatching of first responders when a break-in attempt occurs.

Contact Titan Alarm, Inc. for More Safety Tips for Garage Owners

Titan Alarm can design a fully integrated security system that will keep your garage safe — and protect the rest of your home as well. Contact us for more information and to schedule a free home security consultation today.

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Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.