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Why A Safe Home Starts With The Garage

Most people invest heavily in their home security systems and forget about the garage yet according to FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) nearly 4.5 billion dollars worth of property was lost to burglars gaining entry through the garage in 2014. This revelation acts as a wake-up call to most home owners who don’t invest in ensuring the safety of their garage. The garage is used to store some of the most valuable items in your home including the car, your lawn mower, your kid’s bikes, tools and other equipment. Further, it acts as a potential entry point to your home and one of the most vulnerable to burglars since they know that most homes pay little attention to securing their garages.
Research indicates that most burglars gain access to an efficiently secured garage in less than six seconds; imagine how easily they will access yours if it is unsecured. Once they are inside the garage, they get away with valuables and gain easier access to the inside of your home. Thus, there are enough reasons to understand why A Safe Home Starts With the Garage, and reason to start investing in enhancing security and safety of the garage.
Resources:
Columbus Garage Door Pros
homedepot.com
lowes.com

Keep the garage door locked

Garage Door LockThis might sound obvious but you will be surprised at the number of people who leave their garage doors open with the presumption that someone is home or that they stay in secure neighborhoods. Ensure the windows and both doors are closed, whether someone is home or not. If you have a detached garage, keep the door to the house locked and if possible, ensure it has a double lock for extra security.

Lighting

Nothing attracts burglars to your garage more than darkness, these people hate light and will take advantage of any poorly lit garage. Motion detector lighting is the best option since apart from spooking a thief; it is also highly cost effective. The interior of the garage should be dimly lit and make sure that visibility from outside is difficult; a burglar is less likely to break into a place that they can’t see clearly.

Install a reliable door

Secure GarageAnother thing that seems obvious yet it is a strong deterrent to burglars. Ensure the door is made of high quality material such as galvanized steel and reinforced with hinges, handles and gauge plates. The service door is another think to consider since it acts as a potential point of entry to burglars. Ensure that you install a dead-bolt to make forced entry difficult. The best dead-bolt to install is Grade 1 since it offers free spinning known to deter wrench attacks; has anti-pick top pins and ball bearing cylinder to deter drilling. Be sure to strengthen the lock area of your door with a metal sleeve. Afterwards, install a strike plate (strong) attached to the wall frame using long screws.

Bar windows

Although windows are the last option for burglars to use while breaking in due to the noise, they still try to break in or pry open. Always keep them locked. Add strong bars to ensure that they don’t get in even after breaking the glass. Also, install curtains or covers over the windows to prevent anyone from seeing the contents of your garage from outside. Use sheer material like plastic sheets or fabric which allows light from the inside but makes it difficult for anyone to see the inside from outside.

Alarm system

The alarm system can be a simple door sensor that sends an audible alarm whenever the door is opened. The remote door sensor is another option, this function by sending a signal to a remote receiver or monitor when the door is opened. Chamberlain wi-fi door opener is one of the latest inventions in garage door security. It operates with an app that keeps track of all people coming in or getting out of the garage. Further, using the app, it is possible to lock the door from a remote location thus adding an extra layer of security.

Bring your garage keys

If you are going on a trip, take your keys rather than hiding them somewhere in your home or living them in your car. If someone breaks into your car, they can easily gain access to your garage and get away with valuables. If you operate your garage with a remote, explore the option of a key chain remote which is highly portable and can be carried in your pocket.

Thus, with these simple tips, you can rest assured that security of your garage and your home is in place. After investing heavily in keeping your home safe, there is no reason to give burglars an opportunity to rope you using your garage as a potential entry point and this is why A Safe Home Starts With The Garage.

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