Garage door and window alarm options?

[mikehende]

Hello guys, I have reason to suspect a new next door neighbor might have intentions to break into our garage. Since covid my finances have been cut in half so just getting by since then which means I do not have a large budget for anything so for that reason I am looking into the cheapest workable options for window and door alarm which might help.

These are the pics, so there are 3 entrances, slide up front door, side door and side window. please let me know what options I might have please?

https://i.postimg.cc/VNqyD3Gz/IMG-3237.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/CMv3PCNn/IMG-3239.jpg

The garage is 25' from the house. I am planning on getting 2 of these Wyze Cams:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FFK9ZYR/?tag=atomicindus08-20

So I need an alarm to put on the window and 2 doors which will be loud enough for myself and neighbors to hear it the minute someone tampers with them, any referrals please?

 

[BillK]

Without knowing the layout of your entire property . . . . . how about a couple of cameras aimed at the garage that will sense motion and set off an alarm or notify you of the motion ?

 

[PoorUB]

Motion lights are the best thing. Big honking flood lights. Thieves don't like lights. Only issue is rabbits will trip them. Bar the windows in the garage door and get some heavy mesh, expanded metal over the window(s). Make it less attractive. Alarms are good, most any of them, but you have to remember to enable them and disable them.

 

[mikehende]

Without knowing the layout of your entire property . . . . . how about a couple of cameras aimed at the garage that will sense motion and set off an alarm or notify you of the motion ?

Can you give an example a link to a device like this please?

Also guys, my worry about the motion sensors guys is that it will trigger often with the many squirrels, raccoons, possums and neighborhood cats.

 

[mikedodge]

Find a cheap security camera setup with wireless motion activated cameras and put a couple in the garage.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Simplisafe or a DIY self monitored intrusion alarm

 

[infinkc]

If on a budget, just get some magnetic contacts, wire them in series, put a cheap disconnect switch. Connect to a relay, siren and battery. Instant cheap alarm.

 

[Fasthotrod]

I'm running a Samsung SmartThings hub, along with a bunch of Z-Wave devices that can do what you are looking to do. You can get door/window trigger switches, garage door tilt switches, motion sensors (indoor or outdoor) and then setup smart wall switches, smart receptacles, or separate plug-in the wall outlets to control lights, siren/horn, notify you on your smart phone, etc...

If you're looking for something that costs a bit less, there are systems like this one that might work out for you:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZFJDVY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

...or this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08K3522VC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Sorry to hear that your new neighbors feel sketchy. I hate thieves.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Move or Get a dog, a "real dog"….. NOT a poodle.

Motion sensors work well as a deterrent……. Outside on the corners and one inside the building.

 

[dave*99]

Dog's are not always cheap (to maintain) either LOL.

 

[IBEME]

You might want to move your emergency release cord so that it cannot be reached by breaking out a window on the garage door.
Thieves will break the window. Reach in. Disconnect and then just push up the garage door.

 

[APEowner]

Motion lights are the best thing. Big honking flood lights. Thieves don't like lights. Only issue is rabbits will trip them. Bar the windows in the garage door and get some heavy mesh, expanded metal over the window(s). Make it less attractive. Alarms are good, most any of them, but you have to remember to enable them and disable them.

I think that's true to some extent but in my case I think it just gave the thieves better light to work by when they stole my trailer.

 

[ycgoat]

If on a budget, just get some magnetic contacts, wire them in series, put a cheap disconnect switch. Connect to a relay, siren and battery. Instant cheap alarm.

This is the simplest and cheapest way. You could buy a cheap system and not add an account. There are lots of options depending on what you want/need and budget. I have a rural property I just bought and am building on, I use 2 cellular trail cams, 1 inside and 1 outside. They work better than I expected.

 

[mikedodge]

I think that's true to some extent but in my case I think it just gave the thieves better light to work by when they stole my trailer.

Motion lights are good if you live there and they help alert you to what's going on but I feel the same way that they also help the bad guy see what he's doing.

 

[Klokwerk]

There are lots of cheap solutions out there, but more curious as to why you think your new neighbor plans to break into your garage?
Why not just talk to them and find out. Or did they move in and during the house warming tell everyone they've moved onto the block to steal your stuff? Sounds weird. But eh.

Cheap solutions:
stand alone door/window alarm

amazon portable door alarms

As others have said, bright motion sensor lights work wonders. I've got a rental garage that I was worried about, lots of non resident foot traffic in the area, so I installed a few very bright motion triggered flood lights. 5 years on now, no problems. Next door neighbor, he's been broken into a couple times now. No lights.

 

[Jim greengo]

Dog's are not always cheap (to maintain) either LOL.

Yeah,but they're so entertaining and dont take up much room! Hahaha

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

After looking at OP's building pix I suggest:
Replacing the existing OH door with a windowless steel door because the thieves will kick out the wood bottom panel and get in. Put a pad lock on the door rail so the door can’t be lifted.
Replace the entry door with steel door along with a good lock set with a dead bolt and reinforce the jambs with a product like "Door Jamb Armor"
Obscure the window glass with frosted "contact paper" and install a sheet of plywood on the inside blocking the bottom 48” of the window.
Finally! Install a Ring Doorbell camera along with motion sensing lights.

 

[Viper98912]

Going to make some assumptions here...

Don't have much money to spend,
and the garage may be too far away for any type of wireless signal to your home router
and you don't want bright lights going off all the time with wildlife

I would recommend finding a simple and cheap set of sensors and siren that go off any time a door is open or when motion is detected. Point the siren toward the house so you can hear it.

If you go the motion detection route (which sometimes may go off when nothing is moving, or may not go off when you need it to), I would put the siren on a hidden switch so when you walk in through your normal door (you yourself), you flip the switch to break the circuit so you don't set off your own alarm.

You can also put up some fake cameras to put up, as visual deterrents.

And of course, put up some lighting, but it doesn't necessarily need to be large obnoxious lighting, just some simple bulbs all the way around that will help light up the area.

And most importantly, have your plan ready of how you think you're going to react when you hear the alarm go off. Think about this, a lot. Everyone always wants to go Rambo at first instinct. But seriously, think about the consequences of how it could affect your life.

Unfortunately it stinks that you have this potential problem with your new neighbors.

 

[thickhead]

Dont know if this setup would make you feel better or work for you, but for $200 from Wyze directly you can get the security hub, 2 cameras, 3 entry sensors, 2 motion sensors and a wireless keypad. That also includes 12 months of security monitoring.

I just have 1 of the Wyze cameras to try them out and it works great with a memory card installed and can be installed either indoors or outdoors.