How to make your garage doors secure

As we’re all well aware, our garage tends to be the place where we house some of our most valuable belongings, so it comes as no surprise that if your garage isn’t secure, it could, sadly, become victim to a burglary.

That said, with a few simple checks and adjustments to your property, you can keep your belongings safe and free from thieving fingers. So let’s take a look at things that will deter burglars from your garage and keep your home secure.

Ensure to lock your garage door each time you use it

It may sound silly, but it’s easy to forget about locking your garage door. With older garage doors, they may have bolts you need to put back from the inside, or some garage doors have a physical key lock on the front.

With most electric garage doors, especially roller garage doors, they lock automatically when closed, meaning only someone from the inside or with the remote can open them.

Use motion sensor lighting

Generally speaking, burglars like to operate at night as there’s less chance of getting caught, which is why it’s good to install motion sensor lighting around your garage. Having floodlights by the windows and doors will really put them in the spotlight and make them run off!

Motion sensor lighting works even better with detached garages, as it keeps them out of the shadows and in plain sight, which means one wrong step for a burglar puts them in full view.

Use remote garage door locking

You’ve never had a break-in before, you know your neighbours and you’re comfortable where you live, so you leave your garage door unlocked or open for long periods of time. This could be absolutely fine to do for days, weeks and months, but unfortunately, it’s likely that a passer-by sees this as an invitation.

If you tend to leave your door open, you may wish to install remote control garage door locking, for ultimate convenience. Remote garage locking doors also offer smooth operation at the push of the button (scan of a fingerprint or hand transmitter) without any jolting, and always have a backup mechanical lock to maintain top security even if the power is off.

You needn’t worry about the automatic door crushing anything either, thanks to its safety cut-out which stops the door from lowering any further should it detect an obstacle.

Keep your driveway clear (of other items than your car)

Some burglars don’t care whether it’s day or night, which means daylight robbery is not uncommon. How can they do this without anyone realising? You may think. A well-placed tree, thick shrubs or general clutter can provide them with the coverage they need to get swiftly in, out and away with your belongings.

Keep all entrances and exits clear by removing overgrown shrubbery and other obstacles, so that they’re visible from the street. If you’re close with your neighbours, chances are they will let you know if they’ve seen any strange activity or will go outside to check on your home.

Alternatively, you could always plant well-placed thorny bushes underneath any ground floor windows as another method to deter thieves.

Install a new and secure garage door

There’s no time limit on when you should replace your old garage door, your decision to replace it should be based on its security and general aesthetics. If your garage door isn’t shutting properly, has a gap underneath when ‘fully closed’ or covered in dents, rust and scratches, it’s likely that your garage door wouldn’t put up much of a fight against an intruder.

To prevent prying eyes of passers-by, you may want to install a new garage door that offers maximum security and one that looks sturdy. Criminals are likely to pass on a job that looks tougher compared to a job where they could simply pop a crowbar under an old, weak door.
The same applies to your entrance door too, take a look at it’s locking systems, its seals and overall aesthetics to gauge whether it’s worth investing in a new, secure front or back door.

If you’d like to discuss your garage door or entrance door options, turn to Zap Garage Doors – we’re Yorkshire’s premier garage door supplier. We have an extensive range of doors for you to choose from that come in a range of materials, styles, colours and can be operated manually or automatically – depending on your needs. For your free site survey and a home visit, contact our team today.