It’s June again, which is Garage Door Safety Month! We’ve compiled a list of clever safety measures you can take to deter burglars from breaking into your garage or home. Burglary is one of the most common crimes, but it’s also one of the easiest to prevent. Follow these tips to keep your home, family, and belongings safe.
1. Keep your car keys near you while you sleep.
If you hear something strange or suspicious in the middle of the night, you can press the panic button to set your car alarm off. If a burglar is lurking around, it will most likely scare them away.
2. Be smart about where you store valuables.
If you leave for the weekend or a vacation, don’t store all your valuables in the master bedroom. Think about leaving them in a location burglars are less likely to look, such as in a child’s bedroom nightstand or in the attic or basement—places burglars are less likely to search when in a hurry.
3. Plant thorny plants beneath windows on the first floor.
Planting thorny bushes, like roses, beneath ground-floor windows won’t only add beauty to your landscape; it will also make it harder to get into your home this way.
4. Don’t make it obvious that you’re leaving.
Instead of making a big scene by spending hours packing up the car the day before you head out of town, get everything ready and place it by the front door the night before you leave. Pack up quickly the morning of your trip.
5. Don’t let the world realize you’re gone.
If your home looks deserted, burglars will feel more comfortable targeting your home. You could set your TV and/or radio on a timer so they play periodically to give the illusion that someone is home. Automatic light timers and motion sensor lights are other helpful tools.
6. Make sure your garage door is secure.
Garage doors are common entry points for burglars. Don’t make it easy for them! Make sure your garage door is shut whenever you leave your home, and consider incorporating MyQ technology so you can check on your garage and home while you’re away. You’ll be notified if someone opens your garage door, and you can open or close it from your smart phone. Burglars have become skilled at breaking into garage doors. They stick wire through the garage door panels and unlatch the emergency release so they can lift the door manually. To prevent this, add a zip tie that will keep your emergency release handle intact, or purchase a dead bolt lock system for your garage door.
7. Tell a friend or neighbor you trust to check your house regularly.
If you’re gone for an extended period of time, you may need to have someone mow your yard or shovel your driveway and pathways. Otherwise, have someone collect your mail, check for newspapers and flyers in your driveway and near the front door, and keep a watchful eye on your property.
8. Keep doors and windows locked.
This one may seem obvious, but some people make it too easy for burglars by forgetting to lock all possible entry points. Don’t hide keys outside your house where someone can find them, either.
9. Invest in a home security system (or make it look like you have one).
If you don’t want to spend the money on a new security system, you can buy decals and place them on your doors and windows to try to fool burglars.
WD Door is a garage door repair and replacement company in Ankeny, IA. We serve customers throughout the Des Moines area. Let us know what we can do to help you make your home safer and your garage more secure.
