Security for your garage, other than cameras

[Steveodle]

I am needing security on my new building.
I installed a good 4 camera setup. Now I wonder what else to do to secure the property.

 

[tapered-pin]

I am needing security on my new building.
I installed a good 4 camera setup. Now I wonder what else to do to secure the property.

Have you looked into SimpliSafe ?

I've heard good things about it... I am assuming you're not tying it into a security system that you already have on the premises (home?)..

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

Motion lights, fencing and a dog.

 

[driftpin]

Reinforcement of doors, windows, and OH doors.

 

[Tmart86]

Secure all points of entry.

entry doors reinforce the hinge and latch side with something along the lines of door armor. http://armorconcepts.com/
If its an entry door thats not always used you can get brackets and place two 2x4's across the door.

over head doors with a garage door opener https://www.surelock4homes.com/
with out an opener just use the standard slide latches on both sides of the door.

windows will need something placed over them. Ive built window covers out of expanded metal mesh and angle iron in the past.

 

[bcradio]

security door and lock garage door from the inside

 

[slimcake]

160 pounds of security here!

 

[Cyberbear]

I use door entry switches that activate a loud audible alarm, simple but effective for drawing attention to criminals and can be heard from a distance alerting you to possible danger before entering your premises. Secondly, I use steel reinforcement at all entry points to make it physically difficult to simply break and enter. I purposely have no windows. All but the entry door locks from the inside, and my exterior door has false locks that serve as decoys for criminals who waste time breaking a lock that does nothing. Try to be smarter than they are.

 

[Ben7203]

My 3.5 acre lot is totally fenced. The house is almost in the center. When I first fenced it in, figured I would tired of it. Not the case. I have health issues and disabled now. Those few days after chemo, it's really nice being able to control who comes to the house. I can let my dog out with zero worries.

Firm believer of fences make good neighbors.

So, another vote for fencing and a dog that barks.

 

[kwschumm]

I use outswing steel doors with steel frame, hidden hinges and multilock bolts. This will send them to the windows or to the walls with a sawzall.

 

[OH_Varmntr]

I use outswing steel doors with steel frame, hidden hinges and multilock bolts. This will send them to the windows or to the walls with a sawzall.

Exactly. Nowadays with cordless cutoff wheels, reciprocating saws and impact drivers, around here they don't bother with doors if they're locked. They'll zip the screws right off a piece of steel siding and go through a wall. Not many buildings around here that don't have your standard steel siding for walls.

Same goes for OH doors. Zip wheel and a reciprocating saw with a long blade will get them through OH doors and won't set off any alarms unless motion detection alarms are used.

 

[rsanter]

I have two alarm systems
Bear and Ginger
They are very friendly.....to me anyway

Bob

 

[Tmart86]

I use outswing steel doors with steel frame, hidden hinges and multilock bolts. This will send them to the windows or to the walls with a sawzall.

If they are going to this effort they know what they want in the garage.

 

[tapered-pin]

I've never seen a thief stay and continue to break in when an alarm is blaring..

 

[MemphisR32]

Also a garage door opener that has a built in automatic locking bar or add one after the fact. I use a AST SureLock on my garage door.

 

[bad_idea]

Put the garage door opener on a wall switch. Shut the switch off when you leave the garage, prevents wirelessly opening the door. Run a zip tie through the emergency release to prevent opening it from outside with a coat hanger (look it up on youtube).

Keep the roll up door closed. The biggest deterrent is no one knowing what you have in there.

 

[phy6]

My first mod was replacing keyed doors with non-keyed, to prevent picking and bumping of the old locks. I replaced key locks with non-electric punch code locks. I didn't want to worry about batteries or not having power. I also wanted to be able to tell a friend or family member the code over the phone in an emergency, so fingerprint scanners were out. Lockey is a good brand, I've seen them used in secure wartime facilities.
http://www.lockeyusa.com/mechanicallocks.html

Second I worked on denying physical access. I put up bars on the inside of the windows and screwed in blocks that prevent windows from opening when i don't need them to.

I reinforced the door jambs with steel and added barricade bars for entry doors. I limit myself to using one entrance door that has multiple cameras inside and out watching it.

I put a full house alarm system in, which is connected to a siren in the attic with a huge backup battery. To the system I added several pet immune motion sensors, glass break detectors, door and window sensors and garage door sensors.

The circuits for the garage door openers are disabled when not in use.

My next steps will be a larger siren, probably an air raid variation, window film and upgraded window bars.

 

[Stuart in MN]

In my experience they like to kick in the man door - if they can't get in with a quick kick or two they're going to move on to easier pickings. So, make sure the door and especially the jamb is sturdy, and the latch for the lock is reinforced.

Otherwise, common sense things like making sure the doors are always locked and the windows have privacy shades probably provide the most benefit.

 

[Fixnfly]

I think the garage door is the weakest point. I know mine (aluminum) can be pushed in pretty far at the top and I'm not sure what could be done about it. I've heard of people just ramming them in with stolen trucks.
I'm believe in keeping the door shut as much as possible. Don't advertise what you have!

 

[benjamin85]

160 pounds of security here!

LOL really best additional safety if you have cameras already

 

[James-W]

I think the garage door is the weakest point. I know mine (aluminum) can be pushed in pretty far at the top and I'm not sure what could be done about it. I've heard of people just ramming them in with stolen trucks.
I'm believe in keeping the door shut as much as possible. Don't advertise what you have!

I think a lot of how crooks break in has to do with where you live. For example, in my neighborhood at least, we all look out for each other as well as for each other's property. If we see something suspicious, we will call the police, who I might add, are fairly quick to respond when they get a call like that. So, if someone drove a truck thru my garage door I am quite certain the police would be getting several telephone calls from my neighbors telling them about a break-in. On the other hand, if I lived out of town and my nearest neighbor was 2 miles away, then things would be quite different.

 

[baron405]

i keep mr.xd nearby.

but also will have cameras and i also like the keyless lock option

 

[kwschumm]

It would be expensive but a deep moat with remote control drawbridge might work. I am only half kidding

 

[Tduby]

I've never seen a thief stay and continue to break in when an alarm is blaring..

This if your alarm is loud enough to hurt they will leave and neighbors will call the cops if you are not home.

 

[rmmiller]

Some interesting ideas here. I fully subscribe to the closed door theory, so much that I plan to build a screen to block the door when I want to work with the door open. I am also going to reinforce the man door to my garage, too many tools and parts to let someone walk away with them.

 

[Tj-gord]

Few simple things u can do. Window bars, any crack head with a cordless grinder can cut them..but why make it easy for them. Replace the 1 inch screws in the deadbolt and handle plates in the door frame with 3 inch screws. Secures the plates to the door frame and studs. I also screwd a piece of 1/8 plate over the jam and frame where the deadbolt and handle are (about 12x6). Makes it really hard to kick in when u have to break a piece of plate steel off the studs.

 

[crewchief888]

my garage sits a little ways back from the street, theres usually a vehicle parked in the driveway in front of the garage.

my neighbor can see both the overhead door and man door from his elevated back door, and does keep an eye on stuff when he knows were not around.

we've had 2 fairly large german shep mixes since we've lived here, most people wont take the "chance" that the dog is outside, especially the last dog we had, she really didnt like strangers.

my garage is dark inside, and has little natural light from 2 small fixed windows on the south wall. i have enough stuff against that wall both inside and outside, it makes it difficult to even get close to them.

the overhead door stays closed unless i'm in the garage.

theres only about 5 people, outside of immediate family, that have ever seen the inside of the garage.

if i'm working in the driveway, any "equipment" i'm using i try to keep hidden from street view...

there always seems to be somebody at home... we rarely all leave and the house is empty.

 

[theoldwizard1]

160 pounds of security here!

By far the best security.