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It is a common issue among homeowners to leave out their garages, gardens, and sheds when securing their property.
This not only leaves the specific areas in a vulnerable state, but it compromises the entire property and its security since most of the areas are connected.
When it comes to garages, they are among the top favourite entry points for burglars, right after the front and back doors and windows, when attempting to break into a house.
They look for weak spots when choosing a house to target and the garage is usually one of them since not much attention is given to it security-wise.
Ease of access into a garage not just puts the contents inside it at risk of being stolen, but also provides access into the main house if the garage is connected to it, which is mostly the case in a majority of homes in the UK.
Built mainly to park cars, which most homeowners don’t do due to the small size of old garages or just plain laziness, garages can and are used for storing anything and everything.
They are a great luxury and provide additional storage space for homeowners, making their houses clutter-free and lives a lot easier.
Garages are used to store old or out-of-season equipment, in addition to items that are too big to be stored inside the house which includes bikes, tools, furniture, and garden equipment.
To keep your possessions safe in a garage, you need to protect it from pests, leakages, fires, and theft. Read on to find out ways to keep thieves out of your garage and increase garage door security.
THINK LIKE A THIEF
As odd as it may sound, thinking like a thief might help you find out weaknesses in your garage security and ways to overcome them.
Run a thorough assessment of the garage and its door and try to break in yourself. If you’re able to do so successfully, you can bet a thief would be able to do it even faster.
Check the garage during night time and see if any blind spots or areas in the darkness can be used as a cover.
Make a list of all the vulnerabilities you find and tackle them one by one, ensuring all of them are made to be 100% secure.
You may take professional help, which is the recommended route if you are unsure about what to do or where to start looking. A certified contractor will be able to assess the garage, its weak spots, and suggest the best security solutions.
GARAGE DOOR SECURITY
Doors are your first line of physical defence against burglaries and intrusions and, unless you have a strong and sturdy door to protect your property, all other security measures you take can go in vain.
As mentioned above, garage doors are one of the most common entry points for burglars and there are a few reasons behind it.
The majority of garages have inner access to the rest of the house and, since garage door security isn’t that strict, burglars choose the easy way in and try their luck at gaining access through them.
Another reason is that since garages are used as storage spaces for tools and equipment, some of which may be valuable such as power tools, expensive garden equipment, and vehicles, they have become a desirable target for burglars to steal high-value items, and also easily get away with them!
There are various types of garage doors which include up and over garage doors, roller doors, sectional doors, and side-hinged garage doors.
Regardless of the type of door you choose, you must ensure its security since the traditional ones are often made of thin metal that can easily be levered from either side and peeled open using a little bit of strength and handy tools.
GARAGE DOOR LOCKS
As is obvious, simply having a good garage door is not enough. To maximise garage door security, you need to couple the strong door with a state-of-the-art locking mechanism.
Locking the door is possibly the most basic security measure one can take to keep thieves out of your garage and, to ensure that they can’t pry the door open using a crowbar, you must pay special attention to the type of lock you choose.
It is always a good idea to install heavy-duty anti-snap garage door locks coupled with secure bolts and padlocks to add an extra layer of security.
Where you place the bolts is also crucial since their positioning will also affect how easy or difficult it would be to bypass them.
Make sure your garage door locks are secure, tamper-proof, of high quality, and unable to be broken by force or using tools.
In addition to the aforementioned features, garage door locks must also be durable and weather-proof since they are placed outside and need to be able to withstand extreme temperatures.
Despite how secure the locks are, if they are not corrosion-resistant and will rust and eventually weaken, they will not be a smart security decision.
Also, since there are different types of garage doors, you need to check which type of lock would best suit your current installation.
Some locks are designed specifically to be used on up and over doors, some work great with roller doors, while some offer versatile functionality and work perfectly with different types of garage doors.
If you are unsure about the best type of lock for your garage, you may consult with a professional locksmith who will not just suggest the best security measures to take but also offer after-sales services such as maintenance and repair of the systems.
LOCK YOUR POSSESSIONS
It is necessary to lock up your garage to control unauthorised access, but to maximise security, it’s a good idea to lock individual valuable items as well.
For example, if you lock several bikes together, or lock them individually to an immovable object such as a wall, it would become difficult for the burglars to steal them.
Similarly, tools can be kept locked way in drawers and cupboards instead of just lying around for them to grab.
This way, even if the thieves are successful in breaking into the garage, they won’t be able to get through these second set of locks.
Burglars look for targets where they can quickly get in and out successfully. Double locking your possessions will significantly slow them down and increase their chances of getting caught, due to which some of them might even give up and abandon their target mid-heist.
LIGHT UP THE GARAGE EXTERIOR
There is a reason that crimes take place in dark alleyways where no one can see what’s happening.
The dark provides a great cover for criminals and, even if someone sees them, they can run away without getting seen or recognised.
The same goes for thieves targeting garages and subsequently, the houses attached to them.
A dark garage with no lights is a lucrative target for thieves and can also serve as a good hideout place for them to sneak inside when the garage door is opened.
Illuminating your property, especially areas such as the garage, front and back yard, garden, and shed is extremely necessary to ensure all corners are perfectly visible.
LED bulbs are a great investment for garage security in that they are efficient, easy to install, and highly durable.
Coupled with motion sensors, they light up instantly as soon as someone enters the area, drawing attention to the garage and alerting the homeowners and passers-by of the activity.
They also come with a timer feature that enables the lights to automatically turn on during the evening or before it starts to get dark.
Light timers can come in handy if you are forgetful or when the property is empty and you wish to give burglars the illusion that you’re home by having the lights turned on every single night.
GET A DOG
Getting a security dog for your home and garage might be one of the best decisions you make since it means getting the loving companionship of man’s best friend along with keeping your home protected from unauthorised access.
For anyone who’s been to a dog owner’s house for the first time knows how security dogs react to strangers and are put on alert. Don’t worry, they don’t hurt or bite unless provoked or if they sense a clear threat.
Their loud barks are enough to put the entire neighbourhood on alert and scare away any potential thieves and intruders for the fear of getting noticed by someone and getting caught.
Dogs love to roam and sniff around and, if trained properly, they can pick up on movements and unauthorised access.
They keep a vigilant eye on their surroundings and take action as soon as they detect something unusual.
The top five breeds ideal for security purposes are German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman, Akita, and Rhodesian Ridgeback.
BURGLAR ALARMS FOR GARAGE SECURITY
In today’s day and age, with thieves becoming smarter and thefts more common than ever, it only makes sense for homeowners to also step up their game and give these conniving criminals a befitting counterattack.
Security alarm systems, such as burglar alarms, are one of the most effective burglary deterrents.
Installed in homes, they provide a great solution for homeowners by alerting them in case anyone steps foot on their property.
They work using a series of sensors including motion, infrared, ultrasonic, microwave, magnetic, photoelectric, and glass-break detectors.
In addition to guarding the main access points of the house such as the front and back doors and windows, the alarm systems can be used to cover the garage and its surrounding area as well.
That way, any unauthorised or attempted entry will be picked up by the system and it will sound an alarm, sometimes accompanied with flashing lights, to alert not just the homeowners but also the neighbours and passers-by.
There are different types of burglar alarms to choose for your garage depending on the level of security you require.
The bells-only alarm makes a loud commotion, unless deactivated within a few seconds, and requires someone to be physically present on the premises to respond to it.
The dialler alarm contacts specific people saved on the system in case of an alarm trigger to inform them of the intrusion.
Smart alarms are more comprehensive and not only send you an instant alert on your smartphone when triggered but can also be integrated with other security systems such as security cameras.
If you wish to have your burglar alarm monitored by a professional Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC), you would have to opt for the service via a reliable security company.
Burglar alarm monitoring ensures that all alerts are always responded to and the property remains protected at all times, even during the night and when it is empty.
CCTV CAMERAS FOR GARAGE SECURITY
CCTV cameras are a great invention and a real contributor to security. They enable you to keep a vigilant eye on all areas of your property and their presence scares away potential thieves.
Why are they such a powerful deterrent? Because they record all the happenings and make catching the perpetrators much easier through clear identification.
As is obvious, thieves hate attention and the idea of being monitored and recorded doesn’t sit well with them.
There are various types of CCTV cameras to choose for your garage. The most popular ones include bullet, dome, C-mount, PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom), day/night, infrared/night vision, network/IP, wired, wireless, and high definition (HD) CCTV cameras.
Choosing the best one depends on several factors including the camera’s resolution, the field of view, placement, power supply, budget, and additional features that include professional monitoring, smartphone notifications, remote access, and two-way communication.
However, if you intend to place a CCTV camera outside your property, certain legal requirements have to be met. You must make sure that you angle it in a way that it doesn’t infringe on your neighbour’s or passers-by’s privacy.
CONTACT CALDER SECURITY
We are professionals working in the security industry for over 40 years and our vast experience enables us to understand the various needs and requirements of different types of properties.
We provide a comprehensive security solution for garages that includes:
Members of the Master Locksmith Association (MLA) since 1976, we can supply and work on a vast range of locking mechanisms.
We specialise in wooden, UPVC, and aluminium doors, and can advise you on the best types of lock for your homes, sheds, and garages.
Due to our extensive knowledge, our qualified locksmiths can also repair locks that have become damaged or developed faults.
We understand the importance of good quality locks and are official suppliers for leading lock brands including Chubb, Yale, Securikey, and Garrison.
All our burglar alarm installations are carried out by SSAIB approved installers and they comply with standards: PD6662: 2010, DD243, and BS8243.
Our systems meet the stringent requirements of BS4737 and European standard EN50131 (Intruder Alarm Systems in Buildings).
Our reliable engineers offer maintenance services that keep your alarms working effectively and ensure that the system never develops faults or is compromised in any way.
We offer three main methods of monitoring depending on the level of security you require: digital monitoring using a standard telephone line, DualCom GPRS operating via a phone line and GPRS, and BT Redcare GSM operating via a phone line and GSM.
We design, supply, and install a wide range of domestic CCTV systems and offer both analogue HD and IP camera systems for your garage security.
Our SAIB approved installers follow all the best practices in the industry and provide full training on the equipment provided.
We do not compromise on quality and ensure your utmost safety by installing only high-quality, state-of-the-art CCTV equipment from trusted brands such as Hikvision, one of the world’s leading CCTV manufacturers.
Contact us here or call us on 0800 612 9799 to speak to our industry experts right away!