Nothing can be more devastating than experiencing a burglary or home invasion. Yet many homeowners are unprepared for this worst-case scenario. The truth is that most burglaries happen as a result of homeowners not being aware of the major statistics that surround home invasions.
Perhaps you think that home burglaries only happen late at night. Maybe you also believe that it's unlikely to be targeted by a highly skilled thief because no one you know would ever break into your house. These are two of the biggest misconceptions you can have and can compromise your home’s security. In this post, we will provide an overview of the best things you can do to keep your garage and home safe from intruders.
Home Alone’s 2 most infamous burglars ever.
Basic Home Burglary Statistics to Know
According to Aeon Matrix, most home burglaries happen between 10 am and 3 pm. Yes, that’s right—the majority of break-ins don’t happen in the middle of the night. They also happen much faster than you would expect - in less than 10 minutes. These burglaries are usually conducted by thieves who live near your neighborhood that look for homes without security systems.
Surprisingly enough, 65% of burglars know their victims, which means you can never be too careful when securing your home.
Now that you know some of the major statistics surrounding home burglary, you might be wondering if your garage is safe. Maybe you think that there’s nothing of value in your garage, and while this might be true, if your garage is attached to your home, it can become an entry point for burglars which means that you’re going to want to keep your garage secure, even if you don’t have any valuables stored there.
According to Safe at Last, burglars enter your home through the front door 34% of the time. 23% of the time, they will enter through a first-floor window, with 22% of the time through the back door. 9% will be through the basement, and the final 9% of break-ins happen through the garage door.
Common Things We Forget
A lot of times, newer homeowners leaving the city for a nice quiet suburb think that their immune to a home invasion. With the amount of taxes they have to pay to live in a beautiful suburb, they think that they don’t have to worry about crime. This misconception can lead to complacency and can result in homeowners making critical security mistakes. One of the biggest mistakes you could make is leaving your doors unlocked. Another major security threat is leaving a spare key outside your house.
Sacrificing safety for convenience is rarely a good idea, no matter how prestigious your area is. In fact, if you do live in a nice suburb, you might want to take even more precautions considering that these areas can be heavily targeted due to the many wealthy people that live there.
Common Sense Security Tips
You don’t have to set up Kevin’s elaborate traps. You don’t want to catch bad guys. You want them not to choose your home in the first place. So just start with these:
● Always keep your doors and windows locked!
● Never leave a spare key near your front door or hidden in that conspicuous rock that you think no one can see. If you need to leave a spare key for your kids in case they get locked out, we recommend leaving it with a grandparent or family friend that lives nearby.
● Never leave your keys or wallet in a bowl near the front entry of your home. You should also avoid labeling your keys and should never leave your garage door remote clearly visible in your car for everyone to see.
● Secure your patio door. Even if it's locked, it’s easy for burglars to get in. We recommend using a 2x4 or wooden curtain rod to place between the door and the door frame which will block the door from opening. This way, the only way to get in is to break the glass of the sliding door. No burglar wants to do this because it draws attention to their crime, making it a lot easier for them to get caught.
● Know your neighbors. Having a good relationship with the people in your neighborhood is a win-win for everyone. Not only do you get to form a friendship, but you also get the extra peace of mind that you know someone is looking after your home while you’re away. Having a neighbor you can trust to let you know if anything suspicious is going on around your property is an effective security measure that doesn’t cost you any money. Tight-knit communities tend to look out for one another, which is why it is critical to know your neighbors.
● Always change your locks when moving into a new house. You can never be too safe and never know who might have access to your keys.
● Close your curtains after dark. Once it gets dark, your home’s lights become a spotlight for all of your valuables that can be seen through the window. Avoid unwanted eyes on your expensive items and draw your blinds in the evening.
● Use curtains on the garage and the basement windows. While windows are an excellent addition to any garage to add much need natural light, they also leave the interior of your garage exposed to the public. If you don’t want curtains in your garage, we recommend installing Sandblasted glass—it offers the best of both worlds, daylight, and privacy!
● Use timers for your interior lights. Setting your lights on timers can be a great way to throw off any potential burglars that are staking out your house. By having a light that turns on and off throughout the day with a timer, you can give prospective thieves the impression that someone is home, making it far less likely that they will target your house.
● Install motion-activated exterior lights at your front door, back door, and garage door. Even though most burglaries happen during the day, that doesn’t mean that they can’t happen at night. Installing a motion-activated light outside your home can alert you to any activity going on outside your property after dark. It can also prevent you from tripping over your porch or front step.
● Maintain your landscaping. Keeping your bushes, shrubs, and trees trimmed can allow you to have better visibility outside your home. This is important if you want to be able to spot any suspicious activity.
● Do a walkaround of your home. Walking around the perimeter of your property is important. Doing so will allow you to observe any weakness in your home’s security. Try to notice any potential problem areas where a burglar could get in. If you have any ladders lying around, you will want to store them somewhere where they can’t be accessed.
● Keep your valuable items out of sight. The last thing you want to do is expose your valuables out in the open for everyone to see. Doing so can result in your household being targeted. Avoid this by keeping anything expensive far away from your window.
● Don’t share your location on social media. If you’re out, you might be tempted to check-in and show your location on Facebook or Instagram. While it is understandable that you want to connect with your followers, you’re also advertising the fact that you’re not home to potential burglars. If you’re going out or on vacation, don’t announce it to the world. This will mitigate the risk of getting your home broken into.
If you want to learn more about securing your home, check out this Safeatlast blog article.
Should You Reduce the Length of Your Garage Door Release Mechanism?
Many handymen suggest this transformation in this ColoradoRMN video, which explains how to add a tie wrap and shorten the rope on your garage door.
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
Unlike what is being presented in this video, you need to know that this is not a “design flaw”. The release mechanism is there to protect you in case of an emergency.
These two parts of your garage door operator system are meant to work together as an emergency release. Having an emergency release mechanism will allow you to quickly exit your garage in case of a fire or power outage. Overall, we don’t recommend adding a tie wrap. Instead, try shortening the rope or consider installing a garage trolley shield, which would be safer.
Add an Automatic Garage Door Lock Instead of Homemade Gimmicks
If you’re looking for real security, you’re going to want to add an automatic garage door lock.
Sure, some “handymen” you know might add sliding bolts inside and lock your garage from the inside on both sides near the floor. However, this extreme measure is just another makeshift security gimmick that doesn’t offer any real benefit to your garage’s security. The truth is that a great quality garage door will last up to 25 years. Drilling holes in it could result in voiding your warranty.
Those looking for real solutions should consider an automatic garage door lock from LiftMaster that automatically locks your door when it's closed.
4 main reasons you should install this lock on your garage door
1- Complete protection: A deadbolt lock makes your garage door virtually impenetrable
2- Audible security: The sound of the lock engaging lets you know that you’re protected.
3- Automatic operation: Performs in tandem with the opener. So, it always locks and unlocks when the door opener is activated.
4- Anywhere assurance: Smartphone monitoring with the MyQ app means you always know that the garage is secure.
Worry-free Performance. Know that your home is secured from anywhere with the MyQ App and Automatic Garage Door Lock.
21st Century Solution – Switch to a new smart garage door opener
Take your garage’s security to the next level and get a LiftMaster opener with a built-in two-way camera with two-way audio.
9 Features of the Smart LiftMaster 87504-267 Opener
1- Customizable alerts.
2- Allows you to check the status of your garage door from anywhere.
3- Open and close the garage door from your phone, no matter where you are.
4- Grant user access to whoever you want. Whether it is your housekeeper who comes once a week or your neighbors who need to come by to let the dog out. With a smart opener from LiftMaster, you never need to lend keys to people to gain access to your home.
5- Enable notifications on your smartphone anytime someone enters your garage.
6- Get in-garage deliveries when you order online.
7- Monitor your garage in real-time.
8- Communicate with anyone in your garage through 2-way audio.
9- View past activity with either a 7-day or 30-day video storage option, available via a monthly subscription.
How does it work?
Thanks to the Built-in Camera, YOU CAN ALWAYS SEE what’s happening in real-time
● Live-streaming 1080p HD video
● Manuel 360-degree rotation
● Motion detection, night vision
Thanks to 2-Way Audio, YOU CAN ALWAYS HEAR & TALK
● Microphone and Speaker, Live 2-way communication
● Enable/disable the microphone
Thanks to the Built-in Wi-Fi & Smartphone Control, YOU ALWAYS KNOW
● MyQ-connected.
● Open/close from anywhere
● Customize alerts, share access
● Wi-Fi and integrated Bluetooth
Added Safety Features that Secure your Home and Keep Your Family Safe
● Battery Backup – open and close your garage during a power outage
● Electronic Opening Protection – Stops the door from opening when detecting a forced entry
● Secure Codes
● Safety Sensors – these allow the door to stop closing if an object or person is blocking it.
● Motion-detection lighting
The LiftMaster 87504-267 is a state-of-the-art device that has come a long way from the rudimentary garage door openers of the past. With so many features that allow you to enhance your home's security as well as communicate with people entering your garage through audio, this garage door opening security system will be a must if you want to receive in-garage delivery. And with package thefts on the rise, in-garage delivery will become much more prevalent. Be prepared for this and install a LiftMaster 87504-267 today.
Do you want to make sure your garage door won’t be the burglars’favorite entry point? Here are a few more steps:
● Never, ever leave your vehicle unlock
● If you let your garage door remote in your car, don’t ever leave it in plain sight. Hide it in the car’s compartments or in your purse.
● Reprogram your LiftMaster accessories to make sure another remote control cannot open your garage door. Some people use old garage door remotes and try them on any garage door they see while driving in nice neighborhood. I agree, some people are strange.
Are You Looking for a Reputable Garage Door Specialist?
Whether you’re looking for maintenance, repair, or installation, our garage door specialists have you covered. With years of experience serving the community, we have seen it all and can help you with any garage door project, no matter how big or small. Contact us now at 416-661-5151.
Is it time for a new garage door opener or a new garage door?
At Barmac Garage Doors, we can help guide you through the process step by step. When consulting with one of our qualified team members, you can expect to answer a few basic questions that will help us determine what garage door opening system or door is best for you, and with so many different product offerings to choose from, we can help point you in the right direction.
Have you already decided which door you want?
Contact us for a free quotation by email.
Maybe you still need some inspiration?
If you’re interested in seeing some of our past projects, feel free to browse our residential photo gallery. You can also check out our Design Centre App to build the garage door of your dreams.
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