If you’re like most other homeowners, you keep a lot of your valuables in your garage. You also use your garage to get in and out of your house on most days. But just how safe is this space really? When last did you evaluate your garage security?

We regularly help homeowners secure their garages in order to keep their valuables safer, which is why we created this guide filled with helpful tips.

Let’s share them with you now.

Steps for Securing Your Garage

Step 1: Check the Integrity of Your Garage Door

Just like other doors, your garage door can warp and weaken over time because it’s exposed to the elements. And unfortunately, a weak garage door is more vulnerable to break-ins. To secure your garage door, start by evaluating the integrity of the door. Does it need to be repaired and refurbished? Or perhaps it needs to be replaced entirely?

Step 2: Install Some Lighting

If an intruder cannot get near your garage door, they cannot get to your valuables, which is why lighting is so important. Motion sensor lighting is one of the better options because it switches on as soon as there is movement, alerting you to the fact that someone might be in your yard or driveway.

Step 3: Decrease Visibility Through Your Windows

If your garage door has windows, it’s always a good idea to decrease visibility. This way, thieves cannot see what valuables you have inside. You can either frost, glaze, or tint your garage windows. As an added measure, pack any valuables into cupboards if you have them in your garage.

Step 4: Secure the Interleading Door

Interleading doors between your garage and home are one of the easiest ways for intruders to get into your home. If your door isn’t secure, it will only take a prybar to get inside. Evaluate the integrity of your interleading door as well as the locks to keep your family and valuables safer. And while this might seem obvious, it’s easy to forget to lock this door at all, so make it a habit sooner rather than later.

Step 5: Invest in a Security System

A security system can just consist of an alarm, or you can pair it with cameras. Cameras are ideal because they tell potential intruders that someone is watching. The idea is that when someone sees the cameras, they don’t attempt a break-in at all. And if they do, your alarm will sound and send them running anyway.

Step 6: Make Your Release Lever Hard to Reach

As you know, your release lever allows you to disengage the garage opening system, allowing you to open the door manually. Unfortunately, in some instances, this lever can be reached from the outside of your garage door. To protect your valuables and your home, make sure that this isn’t the case by tucking it away or something similar. Another option is to swap out your lever that pulls towards the door, with one that you need to pull down.

Step 7: Don’t Leave Your Remote in the Car

All too often, people park their cars outside the house and leave the garage remote inside the vehicle. Someone merely needs to break a window to grab the remote and get into your garage and home. Make it a habit to always bring your garage remote inside the house with your keys.

Step 8: Unplug Openers When You Are Away

Our last tip for securing your garage is to unplug your automatic garage door opener when you go on vacation. It’s not impossible for criminals to tell when you’re away, so this is an extra precaution that will leave you with greater peace of mind while you’re away.

Need Help Securing Your Garage?

If you need any advice on how to better secure your garage and home and keep your family and valuables safer, contact The Security and Lock Corporation Miami on (305) 846-9360.