Most people don’t realize it, but thieves look towards garage doors as an opportunity. Not only is the garage door the biggest door in your house, but once the burglar is inside your garage door, they are hidden from sight. This gives them the necessary cover to really get to work unnoticed. Plus, your garage is full of expensive home items — bikes, sports equipment, lawn accessories. And most thieves will enter a garage from a garage door that needs repaired. Be smart. Here are 5 ways you can improve home security on your garage door.
Never Leave Your Garage Door Opener in Your Car
If you ever park outside and leave your garage door opener in your car, you might as well leave the house key taped to the front door with a hand-drawn map to the cookie jar and your wife’s diamonds. All that stands between the thief and easy access to your garage and really your entire home is a good rock. Instead, always keep your opener on a keychain, in your purse, or a commonly used coat pocket.
Mount a Smart Camera on Your Garage Door
Install a smart camera that focuses on your garage door that feeds video into your phone. That way you can check to make sure that the kids remembered to close the garage door so your precious $1000 mountain bike isn’t hanging open in the breeze all day. You might also want to install a smart remote so you can close the door from your phone.
Frost or Cover Garage Door Windows
Whoever invented garage door windows probably likes to watch strangers sleep at night. Frost those windows, or cover them with curtains or matching wood paneling. It’s a simple garage door repair that will provide you privacy and security.
Replace an Old Door
If you have an old garage door that cannot be properly secured or has cracks or doesn’t connect to the ground, it’s time to get a new one. Consider installing a new garage door that doesn’t have any easy openings perfect for a crowbar. A new garage door will improve the value of your home in addition to the security. It’s a smart investment worth considering.
Fix Any Garage Door Maintenance Issues
Keep up on the maintenance of the mechanical parts of your garage door. Make sure all the parts are well oiled. Protect against corrosion. Make sure all the rollers and brackets are in good shape. Keeping a garage door in good repair improves the life and function of your garage door as well as the security.
Install a Smart Garage Door Opener
Installing a smart garage door opener puts the control of your garage door in the palm of your hand — your phone! If you forget to close your garage door, a smart garage door opener will send an alert to your phone. You can then close the door remotely from anywhere. Installing a smart garage door opener also puts an end to package theft. You can give your delivery driver instructions to contact you upon arrival. You can then open the door from anywhere so they can stash your package safely inside your garage. When it comes to repairs and upgrades, installing a new smart garage door opener is an affordable upgrade that makes your garage less susceptible to thieves.