I live in a residential area in the southern metro area of Minneapolis, and it always boggles my mind to find that some of my neighbors constantly leave their garage door open. I could understand if something like the garage door opener needed to be changed out, etc, but the doors have been open for years in all seasons. Could someone please tell me why? lol.
Leaving The Garage Door Open
- Thread starter camaron32
- Start date
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
That's something I've always wondered about as well - right in town no one does it, and in outstate Minnesota it's not common, but in the suburbs I see it all the time.
Bulldog13
Well-known member
I see it in Florida all the time...with all the snakes and geckos down here ..I don't get it? I'm from Boston ..we keep our garages closed ..no need to invite thieves .
If you can't co-exist with the snakes and geckos, Florida is not for you. (this is my home state and raccoons, opossums, turtles and gators are all common down here.)
Some finicky HOA's (home owner associations) require that garage doors are shut when not immediatley being used - - - - thus, cleans up the look of the neighborhood!!
It is a good habit to shut them anyway for theft prevention as bold thieves now-a-days are even hitting garages in broad daylight.
It is a good habit to shut them anyway for theft prevention as bold thieves now-a-days are even hitting garages in broad daylight.
Bulldog13
Well-known member
If you can't co-exist with the snakes and geckos, Florida is not for you. (this is my home state and raccoons, opossums, turtles and gators are all common down here.)
I can handle it but why invite them in..I see tons of garage doors either half open or just wide open.Why? Is it a humidity thing? I notice my fishing gear rusts up quickly down here when I store stuff in the garage.
ambenz
Well-known member
That's just asking for trouble or a heartache!
Sometimes in the summer, I will keep the door open but not all the way.
The bushes will hide the contents from the street as long as the door is a little more than half open...and only if I am tinkering out there.
No way I'm leaving my door up while I'm in the house for longer than 15 minutes!!!!
Sometimes in the summer, I will keep the door open but not all the way.
The bushes will hide the contents from the street as long as the door is a little more than half open...and only if I am tinkering out there.
No way I'm leaving my door up while I'm in the house for longer than 15 minutes!!!!
RalphInCA
Well-known member
Most people just keep junk in their garages. Their most expensive possessions (their cars) stay outside all the time anyway. So why close the garage?
fury9
Well-known member
don't see that around here
LEVE
Well-known member
I live in the middle of nowhere... Jehovah Witnesses can't even find me. I installed a Garage Butler to keep the "Open Door Policy" away from my garage. For $30, it was a good buy. Now I have peace of mind and I don't have to wonder "Is the the garage door closed?" anytime we leave the house.
gatewaysysop
Well-known member
As I've stated in probably countless threads that mention home security and/or garages in general, my neighbors do this with reckless abandon. What's worse is the guy has a TON of tools in there, brimming over and easily seen from a mile away. They've even left it up all night, dozens of times a year, with no lights on in the driveway or entryway, they can't see if anyone is in there and neither can any of their neighbors who might be looking out for them. Boggles my damn mind that they haven't been rolled yet, especially since I have personally witnessed people casing the houses (and cars) in our neighborhood, in broad daylight at that.
At this point, I've chalked it up to someone else making themselves a far more attractive and accessible target than me, and I leave it alone. Only a matter of time, but better them than me.
At this point, I've chalked it up to someone else making themselves a far more attractive and accessible target than me, and I leave it alone. Only a matter of time, but better them than me.
Steroblan
Well-known member
Leaving the door open in a drive by neighborhood allows anyone to see a well stocked garage and come back later to get the goods. Although I dont live in town I would keep the door closed even when I was home unless I needed it open.
MFolks
Well-known member
I take the sunvisor garage door controller with me when cutting the grass and shut the garage door, even though I don't live on a busy street. I've seen far too many cars go to the end of the street & turn around, what with almost anybody with a cell phone can call his buddies, and rip you off. Sure, it's paranoia, but I want to keep my tools & material secured.
Bulldog13
Well-known member
Yep..better safe than sorry..it's like inviting the thieves in!
fourjeepin
Well-known member
I had mine open too long the other day and had to chase a chipmunk out! Darn varmints! Also had a neighbor that often forgot to close his door. He left it open for a couple of days once and lost his lawn mower and leaf blower. Probably would have been hit sooner, but it was a rear entry. He was vigilant after that. And we built a fence across the back yard.
pendragon1998
Well-known member
Heck, I've got wax paper across my garage windows, so you can't even look inside when the door's down. I only open it if I'm going in or out of it, and if it's cool enough, I prefer not to open it at all.
I've got my man door barred from the inside, and I'd love to have the same thing on my house's exterior doors (bar them on the inside), but both my wife and landlord would freak. I don't even live in a bad neighborhood, I just believe in being prepared.
I've got my man door barred from the inside, and I'd love to have the same thing on my house's exterior doors (bar them on the inside), but both my wife and landlord would freak. I don't even live in a bad neighborhood, I just believe in being prepared.
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fringeofinsanity
Well-known member
Yup, we learned a lesson. I used to have it open when I would be working in the yard. Then one time I stepped into the backyard with my kid to dig a small hole. We were back in no more than 4 minutes and when we tuned the corner her bicycle was one. I couldn't believe it, the car was in the drive right in front of the door. From then on, I put the clicker in my pocket.
Tim The Tool Man
Well-known member
I've talked with several people I know who constantly leave their door open and the three most common answers were
"That it cools the house because otherwise the attached garage gets very hot on a sunny day."
"I need a way to let the feral cats in my garage so they can get to the food and water I put out for them."
"My garage is on a slope and the water runs through the back wall and pools at the overhead door if I don't open it!"
"That it cools the house because otherwise the attached garage gets very hot on a sunny day."
"I need a way to let the feral cats in my garage so they can get to the food and water I put out for them."
"My garage is on a slope and the water runs through the back wall and pools at the overhead door if I don't open it!"
Higgins
Well-known member
Around here they call it Garage Jumping. It's young kids normally looking for liqueur and beer. Sometime easy things to pawn for $$$ to purchase beer. Normally happens when the weather is nice outside!
ilovevocs
Well-known member
My garage door is only open when im home, typically working in the garage, drinking, or both. I enjoy having the the door open when I can. I spend most my days sitting at a desk with a small strip window in my office.
SlowPoke-Canada
Well-known member
Thanks for the Garage Butler idea. http://www.garagebutler.com/
My wife and I don't park in the garage but use it to get in in/out of the house on a daily basis. We've both left it open by accident and have returned home to check. Small price for peace of mind.
Probably a lot cheaper and just as convenient to have a Remote Keypad installed . . . . that's what I have.
Only takes a 4 number code to punch in that closes or opens the garage door. It's great for kids coming home from school as well. Also would provide a way for neighbor to check on your house when you're gone without giving them a house key. The code can be changed.
I would only buy a garage door opener that comes with 2 clickers AND a remote keypad.
Only takes a 4 number code to punch in that closes or opens the garage door. It's great for kids coming home from school as well. Also would provide a way for neighbor to check on your house when you're gone without giving them a house key. The code can be changed.
I would only buy a garage door opener that comes with 2 clickers AND a remote keypad.
My brother has one of these... it's saved him a few times when he locked his keys in his car, or wife accidentally left with his set of keys etc.
I leave the garage doors open in the summer because it's so damn HOT!
My garage door doesn't face the street. There are trees and tall bushes along the road, so you'd have to get all the way up my driveway (200+ feet or so) to see what's inside. My dad and/or I go around and make sure all the doors/windows are shut before going to bed, so not too worried. During the day, I can see or hear any cars coming a mile before they get to my house.
ihatelaramie
Well-known member
Our garage door stays open, when someone is home at least. The two trucks, tractor, and shade from the carport do a great job of obscuring the goods from view. Plus, we live off of a side road, in a small town, we know most of our neighbors, and some of them leave their doors up all the time.
Besides, we rarely use our front door, and we spend a lot of time in the garage anyway.
Besides, we rarely use our front door, and we spend a lot of time in the garage anyway.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
When we are home and it's in the summer, our garage doors are always open. We'll be working out in the yard, maybe make a trip to the fridge or something and it's just convenient. After 6 months of cold ****** weather, when it's warm, I like things opened up.
The house we sold to buy this house, I had just built the garage and never really got to use it. It was only around four months from the time I finished it until we moved. That was 20 years ago last month. In those 20 years the 2 brand new garage doors were never shut. Anytime we went past the house, Summer or Winter, day or night, the door were always open. There had to be 500 pounds of dirt on top of those doors.
The house we sold to buy this house, I had just built the garage and never really got to use it. It was only around four months from the time I finished it until we moved. That was 20 years ago last month. In those 20 years the 2 brand new garage doors were never shut. Anytime we went past the house, Summer or Winter, day or night, the door were always open. There had to be 500 pounds of dirt on top of those doors.
b-body-bob
Well-known member
I'll go you one better - I don't even leave mine open when I'm in it in the heat of summer. I worked too long too hard to get my small pile of junk to leave the door open and invite thieves in.
Then there was the time I left the door up and a neighborhood walker came right in and started insulting the bodywork on the car I had at the time.
I remember coming home from work in the wee hours, hitting the garage door button and going inside...Not realizing until after I woke up that I had opened the other door instead of closing the one I just drove thru... Pucker factor high until I made sure I still had all my tools...
Bugeyed Earl
Well-known member
I've seen my neighbors' garage doors open at night with all the house lights out. I just assumed they were lying in wait for burglars to wander in, then they'd swoop in with stun guns to incapacitate them, then chain them up in the basement and torture them mercilessly for weeks. My neighbors are kind of weird.
Harley94
Well-known member
We have 4 garage doors and their always down unless we have a reason to have one open because we're in it or outside of it. The neighbors have always told me they never can tell if we're home or not. But it's easy to know if they are, their door is always open if their home, closed if their not. I'm sure the bad guys can pick up on that too.
smedly
Well-known member
Sounds like you are describing my neighborhood. Cul de sac, lots of kids between 5-10, in and out all the time switching from bikes to scooters to whatever.... Always closed at night though.
thebreeze2012
Well-known member
In the suburb I live in,if you have your garage door open after midnight with no lights on and the cops see it they will knock on your door or have the dispatcher call to warn you.I've seen this many times when I worked 2nd shift.
I've had 1 garage door open during hot times,late at night around 2am and had a cop walk up and ask if everything was ok(he couldn't see me working in garage from the street,I was working behind the closed door),this happened 2 summers in a row,he said he was just making sure I wasn't getting robbed,I said Thank You Very much for keeping a eye out for the hoodlums.
I've had 1 garage door open during hot times,late at night around 2am and had a cop walk up and ask if everything was ok(he couldn't see me working in garage from the street,I was working behind the closed door),this happened 2 summers in a row,he said he was just making sure I wasn't getting robbed,I said Thank You Very much for keeping a eye out for the hoodlums.
DoyleDee
Well-known member
I live out in the semi-country. There is a fairly busy FM road out front, but nowhere to stop withought me knowing..my three dogs out front (pipe fence contained- and electric fence run at the top and near bottom) let me know when people even slow down...they don't have to stop (I guess my dogs know..). No worries here, and if they come into the garage, the inside dogs (two) will go to barking. I love my dogs!
Perryk
Well-known member
71goldss
Well-known member
I hate to admit it, but I used to leave mine open most of the time during the daytime when I was home. Often would even hit the button on the door opener shortly after getting up in the morning to open the house up. It really helped to ventilate the house so that I could leave the household AC off for most of the day. Also had a screened kitchen door from the garage. I stopped leaving it open about ten years ago after hearing more and more of daytime home invasions in the news. Now the only time I have it open is when I'm working in the garage, and I even feel a bit uncomfortable if I leave for even a short moment to go into the house for something.
Wisdom does come with age I guess!
Wisdom does come with age I guess!
atfulldraw
Well-known member
adding garage butler to my list.......
santagary
Well-known member
I open our two south facing garage doors to warm the garage up for Ghost, my pet cat and to warm up the tools if I don't want to start a fire in the air-tight stove. My biggest concern, however, at 71 is my wifes' pet peeve...I often leave my fly open for the same reasons I tell her...to warm things up and air things out! HA!