Tops Tips to Keep Burglars Out of Your Garage and Home

When you think about burglars, what comes to mind? Someone from another city or at least across town skulking around in all black? Do you think that people tend to break into homes under cover of darkness? Before you put plans into place to protect your garage and home from thieves, you may need to reset your thoughts about burglars and how they operate.

Home Alone Movie, two most infamous burglars.

Home Alone 2’s most infamous burglars ever.

The Facts All Homeowners Should Know About Break-Ins

Below you’ll find some information to help you understand the realities of burglary.

Based on data from Aeon Matrix

● In many cases, burglaries happen in the daytime.

● The entire process might only take 10 minutes.

● Most burglars live nearby, and you could know them. They stay away from homes that offer security systems. About 65% of these people are known by the victims.

● The most common area for a burglary to start is in the master bedroom.

The garage might seem like the safest place. You probably fill it up with junk and items you only need on a seasonal basis. Sports gear. Lawncare items. Tools. Besides, you have a large garage door that nobody would try to break into, right? It’s right there for anyone to see, so it seems like a bad entry point for someone trying to avoid being caught.

That isn’t entirely true!

Safe at Last notes the most common ways for a thief to enter the home:

● 34% come in right through the front door.

● Another 23% access the home through a window on the first floor.

● 22% will come in using the back door.

● And about 9% will find a way in through the basement.

● As for garage doors? Another 9% come in that way.

Useful Reminders

Lots of people head to the suburbs to make a life. The neighborhoods are tight-knit and feel safe. That’s part of the reason we choose to leave the cities.

Being in one of these communities creates a sense of safety. You start to relax. Crimes never happen there, so it’s easy to stop locking the doors when you leave. Maybe you want to leave a convenient key outside for a worker. You get a sense that nothing bad could ever happen, so you start taking chances.

But what if someone is watching? Waiting? What if they are hoping these habits make it easier to get into your home?

Everything You Need to Know to Stay Secure

Home Alone most famous picture with young actor Macaulay Culkin

Traps and tricks and other things you see in the movies aren’t needed. Instead of facing the burglars, you just want to keep them out. The tips below will help:

Keep locking the doors. On top of that, make sure the windows are locked too. Don’t tell yourself it’s okay because you’ll only be leaving it unlocked for a minute. Make it a habit every single time.

Quit hiding spare keys near the home. Not under the mat. Not under a rock. Not in a shed in the backyard. It keeps your house insecure and could let someone get inside without your permission. Consider leaving a key with a trusted family member or friend if you need an extra out there.

No more key hooks and bowls. It’s too easy for anyone to access. You also should avoid labeling the keys. Don’t leave the garage door remote where anyone can see it in the car. Someone could quickly snatch it up and leave.

Watch the patio doors. Locking them is a good start, but not enough. Instead, grab an old wooden pole for curtains and cut it to fit into the tracks. This will keep burglars from slipping in if they break your lock.

Chat with the neighbors. When you know the people around you, you’re safer. You can watch their home, and they can watch yours. This is especially useful if you work different shifts. Even introverts can take advantage of this tip. You don’t have to become best friends, just say hi occasionally. There’s no reason to take things further if you don’t want to. Just ask to check on each other when possible. Watch for suspicious people and situations.

Swap out the locks. If you live somewhere new, someone else could have keys. Having new locks installed will ensure that only you and people you know can get inside.

Shut the curtains when it’s dark outside. Remember what we talked about. Most people looking to get in are from the neighborhood. They want into your house because you’re close by, and you have belongings they desire.

Put up curtains everywhere. Make sure you have them in the basement and on garage windows. It looks great, and it offers you a dose of sunlight. However, if the windows are low, clear glass should be avoided. Instead, try sandblasted glass for privacy and lots of daylight.

Invest in timers for interior lights. This is great because nobody knows if you’re home or not. You can turn the lights on at certain hours to make it appear someone is home. Get several timers and set them up at different times. Maybe you put on a room of lights at one time and the tv and other lights during other times. It makes it harder to determine whether you’re at home.

Consider motion-activated lights on the outside. While many burglaries happen during the day, that doesn’t mean you’re entirely safe at night. Place motion-activated lights near the garage and at the front and back doors. These offer an inexpensive way to keep your home safe. It also makes it easier to make it to the door after dark for your family.

Inspect the landscaping outside. Make sure to trim any shrubs or bushes near your home. They make great hiding spots that you don’t want around the house. You can even add a thorny bush near entryways to make it harder to get into windows. Burglars will often avoid breaking in if it’s challenging.

Walk around the house and look for weak areas. Think about how you would get in if you were a burglar. For example, are some of the windows easy to open and get into? Do you have an unlocked shed or furniture to climb to higher windows easily? When you look inside, can you see art, electronics, or jewelry?

Hide all your expensive belongings. It can act as a temptation. First, make sure you have somewhere to store valuables. Then, put things away and ask the rest of the family to do the same. It’s a great habit and it keeps items safe from potential burglars.

Think about what you post on Facebook. This applies to all social media sites. There’s no reason to announce every move you make. If someone wants to get into your home and sees posts about you being out of town, they know they have a chance. Avoid posting real-time updates about where you are or where you will be. It’s a safety precaution.

Follow these tips and consider how protected your home is. Learn more with this Safeatlast blog article.

Ready to learn more about the most crucial factor in preventing someone from breaking into your garage? That’s next!

Have You Considered Decreasing the Length of the Release Mechanism on the Garage Door?

In this ColoradoRMN video, you’ll see a typical hack that handymen often recommend. It involves making the garage door rope shorter and adding a tie wrap.

Someone is showing the rope of an electric garage door opener in a garage.

If the rope is too long, a burglar can easily hook it between 2 door sections, grab it and pull it outside in a few seconds. Photo credit: Image from the video

However, you should avoid following these instructions. The rope is there for a reason and helps keep you safe.

The parts altered in the video make up the garage door operator. They also happen to act as an emergency release. If there’s no power or a fire breaks out, they ensure you can get out quickly.

First, avoid adding a tie wrap. Instead, if you want, cut the rope by a small amount. But you could also add a safer accessory such as a garage trolley shield.

Ditch the DIY and Add a Garage Door Lock that Operates Automatically

There isn’t a ton of resistance when someone tries to open the garage door. A simple bar can pry it up and let someone inside.

Some people will recommend adding sliding bolts. You place them inside and outside of the garage door. This allows you to lock the garage from inside. The problem is that this can be dangerous. It may not work well, and even if it does, it introduces problems.

Think about it. When you choose a quality garage door, it can last 25 years or so. So, putting holes into it is a bad idea. It could even void your warranty.

When you want the best home security, consider LiftMaster. For example, you can choose an automatic garage door lock. It makes sure the door is locked anytime you close it.

LiftMaster Automatic Garage Door Lock Picture

The primary reasons to choose an automatic door lock

1- Excellent security: Adding the right lock to a garage door makes it nearly impossible for the wrong person to get inside.

2- Audible protection: You know you have protection as soon as you hear the sound of the lock engaging.

3- Completely automatic operation: It works with the garage door opener. Whenever it’s activated, it locks or unlocks.

4- Any location availability: Smartphone monitoring is available with the MyQ app. It lets you be sure the space is protected when it should be.

A woman checking if her garage door is lock on her smarphone by using the free MyQ app.

Worry-free Performance. Know that your home is secured from anywhere with the MyQ App and Automatic Garage Door Lock.

Stay Safe and Secure with a New Garage Door Opener

Are you ready to get the top technology out of your door opener? LiftMaster has a smart door opener. It can be used anywhere and even includes audio and video. Check out how it can help!

Nine Amazing Possibilities from the LiftMaster 87504-267 Smart Door Opener

1- Create alerts that work best for you based on your lifestyle.

2- Know the status of the garage door. You’ll never need to worry you forgot to close the door when you hurried away.

3- In any location, close or open the garage door. All you need is a phone or tablet.

4- Provide access whenever needed. Make sure the kids can go in, the dogwalker can access the home, and more. There’s no need to hand out keys or share passwords.

5- Check out notifications from your smartphone any time someone goes into the garage.

6- If available in your location, order items online and get in-garage deliveries.

7- Get a look into your garage whenever you want in real-time.

8- Communicate with others in the garage. You can share information, ask questions, or otherwise chat.

9- Take a look at what has happened in the past. A seven or 30-day video storage option is available. All it requires is an inexpensive subscription!

How does it work?

The homeowner gets a notification “Garage door 1 opened just now” on her smart phone and sees her children and the babysitter, live on camera, as they enter the garage.

The homeowner gets a notification “Garage door 1 opened just now” on her smart phone and sees her children and the babysitter, live on camera, as they enter the garage.

Use the camera to see what’s happening when

● Make use of night vision in the dark and motion detection to see who is around.

● Try out the manual 360-degree rotation for the best view.

● Enjoy high-quality 1080p HD video with live streaming.

The homeowner gets a notification on his smart phone and sees the neighbor as she enters his garage. “Hi, Rachel!” he says, “the ladder is hung on the left wall”.

The homeowner gets a notification on his smart phone and sees the neighbor as she enters his garage. “Hi, Rachel!” he says, “the ladder is hung on the left wall”.

Use the camera to see and the audio to speak and hear

● Disable and enable the microphone whenever you need it.

● Inclusion of a speaker and microphone allows real-time two-way conversations.

The homeowner gets a notification on his smart phone “Alert Occurred – The garage door remains open  and sees that the neighbor who walks the dog as the last to come out from the garage door.

The homeowner gets a notification on his smart phone “Alert Occurred – The garage door remains open and sees that the neighbor who walks the dog as the last to come out from the garage door.

What else can you make use of? Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for total convenience

● A constant connection to MyQ

● Wireless Internet and Bluetooth integration

● Option to share access and change alerts

● Ability to close or open the door from all locations

A mom and her daughter are going to the house from the garage. We can see that the garage door has secure door lock.

You’ll also be able to keep the home safe for yourself and your family

Motion detection lighting provides you with a way to ensure the garage is bright whenever you step inside.

Safety sensors keep accidents from happening. For example, the door will never close when something is in the way.

Protective codes are available with a single click. Never share a usable code that someone can use to enter without permission.

Electronic protection helps avoid forced openings from people who shouldn’t be inside.

Full back up through battery so you can get in and out of the garage even when no power is available.

Replacing the former LiftMaster 8550, the LiftMaster 87504-267 isn’t an old-school door opener. It gives you the chance to order online and get deliveries in the garage. It lets the kids in easily. It keeps the garage secure and keeps burglars away from your home. Since packages are being stolen from porches, in-garage deliveries are more common than ever. This garage door opener will get you ready for the future.

Want to avoid burglars? A few more tips are listed just below:

● Avoid leaving your remote for the garage in your vehicle where others can see it. Instead, make sure to stick it in a purse or slip it into a pocket.

● No matter where you are or what you’re doing, don’t leave your vehicle unlocked.

● Make sure to reprogram your LiftMaster accessories. This ensures that others can’t open the door. It might sound strange, but some people seek out old remotes and try to open garage doors across the neighborhood.

Want some advice before you move forward?

You can reach out to us for help at 518-562-8310.

We’ll help you with questions about maintenance, repair, or installation of a garage door opener or garage door. We’re passionate about garage doors and have grown our expertise over several decades.

Decided to purchase a new garage door opener or garage door?

The staff at North Country Door Systems is here to assist you. First, we’ll walk you through some questions to determine your budget and needs. Then, we’ll share some items that might work well for your home.

Already know which garage door or opener you want to be installed?

Great! We can handle the rest. Contact us for a quotation by email.

Prefer to see some of your options and get creative first?

The first thing you can do is visit our residential photo gallery. Prefer to work with apps? Take out your tablet or phone and play with our Design Centre. It gives you the chance to create the garage door of your dreams.

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