The garage door is the largest entrance to your home. That’s why it plays such a critical role in home security. Most burglars enter the home through the garage door. The fact is that a garage door in bad need of repair creates opportunity for thieves and puts your family in danger.
Here are a few of the most common ways thieves can break into a garage. Interestingly, most of these are preventable if you keep your garage door in great working order and repair.
Unlocked Garage Door
The most common reason thieves are able to access a garage door is it has simply been left unlocked. People don’t think about it. In Rancho Cordova, California, people tend to trust their neighbors. Unfortunately, it’s not until they’ve been the victim of crime that they realize how vulnerable their homes really are. Make sure your garage door can only be opened by the remote or keypad. If you don’t have a garage door opener, make a habit of keeping your garage door locked when you aren’t home.
Garage Door Remote
Here’s something most people don’t think about: They leave the remote to their garage door opener clipped to their visor. All it takes is a rock through a window and the thief has access to your remote, your garage, and perhaps your entire home.
That’s why we recommend always bringing your garage door opener remote into the home with you. The best kind fit on a set of keys or in a pocket. Leaving a remote inside of a car is just too big of a liability.
Damaged Garage Door That Needs Repair
If your garage door is badly damaged and in need of repair, this is an open invitation for burglars.
Misaligned tracks, broken rollers, damaged cables or springs can cause a garage door not to close properly. Your door may be stuck halfway shut. Thieves can simply crawl underneath the door, or use a crowbar to wedge the door open far enough for access.
Or perhaps your garage door is missing a panel or section of a panel. This provides easy access. It also can lead to a pest control problem.
That’s why garage doors are so important. It provides less access to thieves and more security for your family.
An Old Garage Door Opener
Older garage door openers work on certain frequencies that are easy to hack. Some brands are set to a single frequency. Thieves can easily mimic this frequency to gain complete access to your garage and home.
That’s why we recommend installing a new garage door opener if your unit is older than 5 years. The good news is you can then upgrade to a smart garage door opener, which improves your accessibility and convenience.