If a man’s home is his castle, then you want your castle to be as secure, reinforced and fortified as possible from burglary.
This doesn’t mean going out and digging a suburban moat and filling it with sharks or piranhas, but it does mean coming up with crafty and well-planned out ways to deter crime and prevent intruders from getting inside your home.
The front door, back door, and garage are the three main entry points for most burglars. And while a hi-tech phone accessible 4-channel DVR with night vision cameras and a 500 GB HD typically monitor the front and back door, often times the garage is left vulnerable and susceptible. Here are seven easy ways to make your garage more secure:
Keep Possessions out of Sight —
A smart burglar can read your bank statement by taking a quick inventory of what you have in your garage. If your garage has glass windows or you open your garage door several times a day, conceal your possessions so they aren’t visible.
Put away the expensive mountain bikes and the kayaks in the shed, cover the stainless steel deluxe grill with a tarp, and keep other lawn equipment and recreational valuables out of sight. Burglars are continually on the look-out for garages that look like merchandise showrooms.
Don’t Attract Attention to Your Home —
If a burglar can tell a lot about your financial situation from what’s inside your garage, then they can tell even more with a quick glimpse in the front window.
In other words, do not put expensive electronics like TVs, computers or stereos near a window. Once a burglar sees that Apple desktop or your 42-inch Plasma TV, they are going to attempt to figure out a way to steal them.
Seeing these items may propel them to break into your garage to reach your home’s interior.
Install Deadbolts on All Doors —
Be sure to install heavy-duty deadbolts on all garage doors, especially the door that leads from the garage to your home.
However, if you’re not at home or away on vacation, an extreme and desperate burglar may even attempt to break down the door, so make sure the door leading from the garage to the house is constructed of solid wood or metal clad.
Many modern doors are hollow and easily broken down. Find out what type of doors you have and consider an upgrade. One problem with deadbolts is that they are only as effective as the door jamb they slide into.
Most jambs on pre-hung doors are only 1/2” or 3/4” stock and since the grain runs vertically, they are easily compromised. What to do? Even the odds with this strong deadbolt hack.
Upgrade to Motion Sensors —
Outfit your garage doors with motion sensors. Even if the intruder is unable to get into the house, you would still want to know if a criminal was creeping around or casing your home.
The motion sensors will detect any strange disturbances, and you can then phone the police. Once the police arrive, there is a good chance the intruder is going to be deterred from trying to rob your home.
Don’t Forget about the Windows —
Don’t forget about your garage windows. Since glass can be broken quietly, consider buying glass breakage detectors. These detectors will alert you if someone is attempting to get in your home by shattering your garage’s glass window.
Don’t assume that when a burglar shatters a window that it is going to make a loud, unmistakable sound.
Keep Doors Locked at all Times —
It might seem like common sense, but forgetting to lock the doors is one of the main reasons that people are robbed. It’s easy to remember to lock the front and back door, but many people forget to lock the door that leads from the garage to the home. This is an open invitation to an intruder.
Shut the Garage Door Immediately —
It is tempting to leave your garage door up if you know you’re leaving again soon. While it may be convenient, an open garage door is a sure-fire way to attract every burglar in town.
Shut the door as soon as you pull your car into the garage and avoid getting out of the car until the door is completely shut. You never know who might have slipped in under the door before it closed.
A hi-tech home security system might be the best way to discourage thieves, but it is not the only way. These seven tips will also help prevent crime and keep your family safe. As a homeowner, you need to decide what’s best for you. The goal, however, is to stay one-step ahead of potential intruders at all times.
Do you have any home security tips to share? Please post them in the comment section below for our readers!
typically monitor the front and back door, often times the garage is left vulnerable and susceptible. Here are seven easy ways to make your garage more secure:
