Safety within your home is paramount, but it’s often forgotten to extend that idea to your garage or shed, especially if they’re detached from your property.
A garage door is one of the most vulnerable entry points into your home, making it a common target for thieves. If you have a detached garage, burglars know they may still find valuables inside such as motorbikes, lawnmowers, tools and so on.
If you’re storing possessions with value, it’s important to take preventative measures to deter any intruders. The more secure your property is, the less appealing it will look to thieves.
This home security guide will provide helpful tips in setting up your garage security to deter any unwanted visitors.
Tips
Lock your doors
An obvious step to take but an important one. The first deterrent is making sure that your garage or shed door is securely locked.
For extra steps, you can look into purchasing a padlock for smaller entry doors or garage door security bars for larger exterior doors, available from places such as Image4Security. Garage security bars are an effective way to deter thieves as they won’t be able to pry open a typical garage door.
These bars can also act as a shed security bar or any other external door, helping to protect your valuables.
Add exterior lighting
Adding lights around your property, in particular motion sensor lights, are a great and effective way to deter burglars. Most thefts occur at night, under the cover of darkness. Unlit properties and entrances are a more appealing target for intruders.
Nowadays, motion-sensor exterior lighting is a popular choice for homeowners and a cost-effective approach to protecting your home. Any lights must be strategically positioned near the garage door, so they cannot be avoided.
If you’re looking to purchase a motion sensor light, make sure the radius and quality of the lights are suitable enough.
Cover your windows
Whether you place valuables inside your garage, or not, the best way to keep them safe is to keep them hidden. While this can be achieved by covering the items out of sight, an even safer way is to not allow thieves the opportunity to look.
By covering your garage windows, whether that’s with a cloth or a blind, it will black out any view there may be into your garage. This option is a cheap and cost-effective approach and can deter opportunist thieves.
Another alternative, that doesn’t require you to draw the blinds every time you leave the garage, is to replace any windows with frosted glass. This keeps the daylight in but the view inside impossible to determine.
Replace old garage doors
If your garage door is worn, battered, chipped, and doesn’t close flush to the framing, then it’s time to replace the door. A sensible approach to garage security is to think like a burglar. Take some time to investigate your property and ask the question “how would a burglar use this to get in?”
If your garage door leaves gaps along the edge, it won’t take much for a thief to break in and pry it open, so it’s best to ensure that your garage doors are in good condition and are replaced where necessary.
Garage defender
Installing a garage defender provides the best deterrent and solution to garage security, bar none. A garage defender works in fortifying the door from the outside, preventing it from being swung open.
This heavy-duty lock is drilled directly into the concrete, keeping it secure and is practically impervious to breaking or being cut. Depending on the model, a garage defender comes in various shapes and sizes and are one of the best ways to secure your garage.
Install cameras
A more costly approach is to install motion-sensor cameras. Whether these are installed on the exterior of your property or directly inside your garage, it works more as a reactionary measure rather than a preventative measure.
Some thieves will steer clear of homes that have exterior cameras but for those that might break inside your garage, a camera inside will provide evidence that will be vital in any insurance claim.
Install an alarm security system
Having some form of an alarm security system visible on your home will make it less likely to be targeted by thieves. A loud siren or alarm works well for scaring away any burglars and will provide you time – or your neighbours – to react and take appropriate action.
Garage alarm systems are usually easy to install and work similarly to home alarms. As soon as the sensors of the garage alarm system sets off, it’ll start the siren.
Increasing your garage security takes more than one step or one preventative measure. While these tips aim at reducing the chances of theft or intruders entering your property, there’s no specific solution.
The garage is commonly the least secured place on a property, so it’s best to use more than one solution to achieve satisfactory results.
