Garage Security Ideas

[el gringo]

I live in a relatively high crime area. I've always worried about my garage getting ripped off, mainly by some random crack head. I've got bars over the windows, replaced the man door with a decent steel door and good deadbolt lock in reinforced door frame, installed a screwdrive opener and adjusted the angles to make it all but impossible to jack the door. But the fuckers got me anyway. They backed a truck up against the overhead door until the rollers popped, then cleaned me out.

So now I'm looking for any and all ideas for enhancing the security. Specific things I'm considering:

- Ways of reinforcing the overhead door
- Supplemental locks on the overhead door
- Camera systems
- Alarm systems

So, anyone have any ideas?

 

[Lloydthumper]

Install a Phallix weapons system Like they use on aircraft carriers. LOL It's like a Gattling gun that has Radar on it to track an destroy anything that gets in its path. No Seriously There is not a 100% way of securing a building. I had a friend that crooks drove a truck through the back of his block wall because he put up removable steel polls that were installed with a cross bolt that had a lock on it in front of his roll up door to prevent the same thing you had happen. An alarm system is your best bet. The guy I am talking about went to extremes with it. He actually rigged the inside corners of the building with Tanerite which is an explosive but it doesn't really hurt anything around it. It worked once so far They didn't get a thing except the poop scared out of them and no one else has tried it yet. When it explodes it makes a big smoke cloud but its like a bomb going off as far as noise. needless to say he didn't have to call the cops that time.

 

[MikeN]

Move

I do have alarm system and cameras at my place.

 

[MustangRick]

Mount multiple sirens and stobe lights inside hooked up to an alarm. Cause as much pain to them if they get inside. You will also want to have it noticable outside when it is going off. But if your neighborhood isn't that great, then that won't help out much.

Add angle iron to the inside lip of the door track to keep the door from pushing past the track. This will need to be braced to hold up to the weight of a vehicle. I have seen businesses that have high security roll down garage doors. Check them out to see how they are fortified.

 

[boiler7904]

I'd run some steel channels across the inside of the overhead door opening that are easily removed when you need to get in and out. Put them at about 2' and 4' off the ground.

Since they backed a vehicle into your door, park a car in front of the garage. It may not stop them, but it will definitely slow them down.

I'd also make sure everything inside gets stored in some kind of heavy, locked steel cabinet or tool chest.

Install some floor anchors and chain down large items like tool chests, welders, etc.

Security cameras, alarm system, and a big *** dog are other options.

Never leave the door open more than you have to - it's advertising to the neighbors what you have (and they want). I live in a relatively crime free area with regular police patrols and get pissed if my garage door gets left open when there's no one outside.

 

[FL_Javelin]

Far and away the best deterrent is

 

[trovato]

I always thought these smoke systems were way cool. You'd have to get some cameras too, just so you can watch the bad guys **** themselves.

http://www.smokemachines.com/ssshortclip.wmv

 

[TonyMazz]

I have insurance.....

After all a cordless rotozip will zip right through an exterior wood wall in 5 minutes...who needs doors...

People safety is foremost, and "stuff" can be replaced...

I have 3 dogs....each can here a fly-fart...but when I am not there I have a centrallized alarm, and if someone succeeds in grabbing a few things before the sherriff shows, I have insurance....

A black shepard would make anyone **** in their pants....

 

[bahamasair]

Is this garage at your house? There is a lot of different ways to fortify the garage but if they reverse a stolen vehicle that they dont give a **** about into just about any part of it fast enough it will make a hole. Id concentrate on cameras and alarms first then if you can afford it and dont mind the industrial look get a roll down steel door.

 

[thefairlaneman]

My garage was hit 2 years ago when I forgot to lock the door even though the garage is only 10 feet from my back door. I installed a motion detector and riged it up to wake me up if anyone triped it going into my garage and remain silent outside. Soon I caught the robbers coming back for the things they left behind one week before. You cant prevent them from trying to get in but you can use this type of silent alarm to catch them . What you do then is up to you , I didnt have a shotgun last time and if there is a next time WHATEVER IT TAKES they will wait at gunpoint untill the cops get there the easy way or the hard way......as far as dogs go they are great if you have a good one.My 80lb akita was asleep the entire time not 10 feet away,gezzz

 

[z28toz06]

Fvckin move! it aint worth living in a $h1thole area like that.

 

[V-10 Killer]

I live in a relatively high crime area. I've always worried about my garage getting ripped off, mainly by some random crack head. I've got bars over the windows, replaced the man door with a decent steel door and good deadbolt lock in reinforced door frame, installed a screwdrive opener and adjusted the angles to make it all but impossible to jack the door. But the fuckers got me anyway. They backed a truck up against the overhead door until the rollers popped, then cleaned me out.

So now I'm looking for any and all ideas for enhancing the security. Specific things I'm considering:

- Ways of reinforcing the overhead door
- Supplemental locks on the overhead door
- Camera systems
- Alarm systems

So, anyone have any ideas?

"If locks only keep honest people honest, try to surround yourself with honest people".

Sadly, I think at that point, nothing replaces good neighbors. My first concern would be what kind of neighborhood I live in. If my neighbors would watch a house/garage get cleaned out, or watch someone get mugged or otherwise hurt, and not even bother to call, that would be enough of a sign for me to know I'm living in the wrong place. Some neighborhoods are doomed to be worse than others because some people just want to put forth the motivation to make them better.
I went away for 2 days last weekend, and when I got back, my neighbor John let me know 2 vehicles had been there. One green Dodge truck, and a silver minivan (by vehicle discriptions, my sister, and brother).
I think if you don't have that, a good silent security system from a reliable security company would be a good start. Hopefully one with a very small, high resolution camera sending video off to them. I'm still looking for one that doesn't rely on a ground based phone line.

I'm building my garage so that there are no entry points that I can't see from my dining room window.

 

[thefairlaneman]

I live in one of the best neighborhoods in the city. You see the crack heads want to steal and the pickins arent as good in the "bad neighborhoods" The real wealthy folks have security fences and all that but who has 30k to spend on a security fence ? not me. you can rest on one fact, Once they leave with your stuff you will not get it back and the cops being able to catch them almost never happins.

 

[bluesman2a]

I'm still looking for one that doesn't rely on a ground based phone line.

I have www.alarm.com they are great. I can log into a website, arm, disarm, and get status on every sensor in the whole system. The system is battery backed up, and does not rely on a land-line.

I even have it set up to email me every time somebody goes into my external shop (not an alarm per-se, but every time either door opens).

I've been looking for a video/internet option too, but have yet to find one. If anybody has ideas, please pass them on.

 

[Kelly]

i would build a ram gate so they drive through the garage door (they do that in las vegas too)
you can make them similar to this but on a smaller scale, using some 3-4 in pipe filled with cement

good luck

 

[bmwpower]

I have www.alarm.com they are great. I can log into a website, arm, disarm, and get status on every sensor in the whole system. The system is battery backed up, and does not rely on a land-line.

I even have it set up to email me every time somebody goes into my external shop (not an alarm per-se, but every time either door opens).

I've been looking for a video/internet option too, but have yet to find one. If anybody has ideas, please pass them on.

That's pretty cool. I'm gonna check that out.

 

[wildcat]

I always thought these smoke systems were way cool. You'd have to get some cameras too, just so you can watch the bad guys **** themselves.

http://www.smokemachines.com/ssshortclip.wmv

Cool idea but I'd want to use tear gas or pepper spray. That would certainly stop them in thier tracks.

 

[el gringo]

A few good ideas in there. It looks like I'll probably be getting an alarm system of some sort. Anyone have any recommendations for camera systems and where to buy them? I haven't had much luck in my google searches. Beyond alarms and cameras I'm going to try to reinforce the door somehow, partly to protect from this happening again, and partly because I've always been worried that some drunk idiot will come flying through the door anyway. I like the "ram gate" idea, I need to do some concrete work anyway.

 

[kbs2244]

For sure bright lights inside and out, loud alarms. Easy too seen cameras and a sign that says there are hidden ones also.
But what you described was a real "hit and run" They were in your place for less then 30 min. maybe only 15.
Physical force can only be beat by strong walls and doors. Make your strength easy to see. Someone cased your place before they hit. Do you work with the door open? If they can see what is in there is worth getting, can they also see that you have all kinds of stuff to keep them out?
It is the old story. They are looking for easy money. They are not looking to work at it. If they were willing to work, they would have a job. Make it hard, and they will go somewhere else.

 

[bmwpower]

A few good ideas in there. It looks like I'll probably be getting an alarm system of some sort. Anyone have any recommendations for camera systems and where to buy them? I haven't had much luck in my google searches. Beyond alarms and cameras I'm going to try to reinforce the door somehow, partly to protect from this happening again, and partly because I've always been worried that some drunk idiot will come flying through the door anyway. I like the "ram gate" idea, I need to do some concrete work anyway.

For cameras check eBay. There is software as well as hardware solutions for camera systems on ebay.

 

[bahamasair]

You can also get automatic retractable bollards that can take a direct hit from a truck and not let them thru. Ive installed a few here but they aint too cheap. You would only need 2 for your door and could install em your self but its a good bit of work.

 

[snorvet]

I have www.alarm.com they are great. I can log into a website, arm, disarm, and get status on every sensor in the whole system. The system is battery backed up, and does not rely on a land-line.

I even have it set up to email me every time somebody goes into my external shop (not an alarm per-se, but every time either door opens).

I've been looking for a video/internet option too, but have yet to find one. If anybody has ideas, please pass them on.

I have a security system, cameras and output through my webserver so I can see my garage in live video via web interface or replayvideo clips stored on my hard drive that are set off by motion.
http://www.geovision.com.tw/english/3_1.asp?stable1=Pro&sfiled=pgid&pno=10

I bought the system at http://www.palmvid.com/

 

[rodnok1]

Gate in front of garage door, either chain link or bar type. Inside chain all the big stuff down, keep tools in locked cabinets. Or keep is so freaking messy they can't tell the good stuff from all the **** laying around...just a little humor for ya. That ***** you got ripped off man. Other little things, frost paint all the windows so they can't peek in and scope it out, keep a car parked in front of overhead door. All you can do is deter them in reality, if they want it bad enough they'll get it.

 

[evs1]

My back porch overlooks the garage, I handle it from there.

 

[V-10 Killer]

You can also get automatic retractable bollards that can take a direct hit from a truck and not let them thru. Ive installed a few here but they aint too cheap. You would only need 2 for your door and could install em your self but its a good bit of work.

Could you set one up that doesn't come straight up, but is anchored and just tilts up, like laying a capital E on the floor, and have the long side raise hydraulically? It would be really easy to fab with heavy gauge C-channel.

 

[bahamasair]

You could do that pretty easily. The worst part would be to recess it into the floor. You could weld it up and use hydraulic gate motors to lift it.

 

[Lawbreaker2]

Well, a dead crook is a good crook, get caught in my garage and I will take you out , And I won't think about it, Becuz, if you call the cops on them, they will be back mad once they get out of jail, so this is the only way to sleep at night, shoot them and kick them in the street, when the cops come, I didn't see or hear anything last night, sorry sir.