Security measures for your garage

[DennisRoy]

What are the things or steps you take to secure your garage?
These are the few steps I care about
~Equip the service door with a deadbolt and a heavy-duty strike plate, as it is the security weak spot in must garages.

~Lock the entry door. Since my garage is attached to the house, I lock the door that leads into the house.

~Try to cover the windows, as showing off the tools and equipment would only encourage the crooks to get in.

~Installed smart security system. When the crooks have a feeling that they are being watched, that will discourage them to make any kinds of move.

~Added bright lights. This will make the burglars nervous. I have a motion detector lighting in my garage to save the energy.

What are the security measurements you have in your garage?

 

[glend123]

I have the security lights and a camera.

 

[Tinkerman66]

Security lights and camera here. I also have a stereo playing just loud enough to hear outside when the doors are shut. Let them think someone is inside. I live in a rural area so this doesn't bother neighbors.

 

[Abeo]

I had someone try to break into my garage this winter. They tried to pry open the man door. Here is what stopped them:

Deadbolt locked
aluminum angle iron on the outside to prevent prying the jam
steel reinforcements of the door frame
4 inch screws through the strike plate into the framing
3 inch screws in the hinges
The neighbors dog probably was barking it's head off

Here is what was determined to be weak points:
The door was hollow core (meant to change it prior). It split a bit but still held up.
The deadbolt and knob held up, but you could see how weak they were. I had to break them apart to get the door open.
The garage doors were weak single layer and crappy. I changed them recently to insulated.
The garage door opener emergency release was easily accessible. I have it ******* now but in a way that I can still use it after a few seconds.

Things added:
Solid core door
Security camera
one-piece steel striker plate for both the knob and the deadbolt
Upgraded deadbolt

Things to be done:
Outward swing with security hinges
Sheetmetal steel reinforcement over knob and deadbolt
more security cameras

I know if they want in, they'll get in. But seeing as they got discouraged and left for an easier target means I am on the right track.

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

Abeo is correct, if the want to get in, they will. There used to be a very nice gun shop near here. Run by the same family for years, prior to the big box chains moving in. They had welded guards over the windows, a really well built steel grill over both doors, and inexpensive alarm system, in short they went the extra distance. One morning the owner walked over to the shop and discovered a huge hole in the back wall. The burglars had opened a 4'x6' hole in a solid wall with a couple of chain saws, gone in, grabbed several hundred weapons, but the alarm didn't work because the telephone line was cut before the operation started.

By all means, harden the doors and windows, to delay an intruder, but install a well designed alarm system. If you want to install it yourself, well, okay, but get someone with knowledge in the business to help select and place the sensors. It isn't rocket science, but it is like many other things, in that it is easy for the uninitiated to overlook something. Adding CCTV cameras is a good idea, but the same concept applies. Get someone to help design it. Recorded video is no good, if the burglars' own mother couldn't recognize his image on the screen.

Also, ensure that your alarm panel is (1) equipped with its' own back up power, and (2) use a panel which has two different means of communicating with your (UL) central station. Finally, about twice, a year, call your central station, ask them to put your system on "test" then arm it and actually trip each sensor. If you do have cameras, playback the video and make sure the recordings provide a clear image of the desired view. Cameras degrade over time, so what worked last year, may not today.


.

 

[sledneck322]

Big LED motion sensor lights on all ends and 2 security camera systems. One hard wired wired to a 3 tb drive and another wireless Arlo system with motion sensors backed up to cloud storage.

 

[Git]

A really simple thing to do is cut the power to the garage door opener at night. Lot of people get into garages because the owner left their car unlocked with the garage door opener in it

I have a 'smart' outlet in the ceiling and every night it is set to turn the power off and then back on in the morning. (It's a Z wave outlet)

 

[ChaseDE]

#1 security rule for my attached garage is

1. don't forget to close the door at night


this rule may be broken like once a month, maybe every other month, nothing has been stolen yet.

 

[crewchief888]

I don't allow "visitors" in the garage. No neighbors, or friends of friends. Only a couple people I know even know where I live.
I seldom have the door open, and the garage is back gar enough from the street that it's difficult to see in.
We've had large German shepherds the whole time we been here.
Dusk to dawn lights on the front of the garage and back of the house.

 

[bczygan]

Just closed the neighbors door last night. It was half open.

Use layer after layer of security including camouflage, false walls or fake covers. Leave bait items along with other stuff. A non working, but expensive looking item with a tracker/alarm inside will do.

Start monitoring with hidden cameras at the street to catch vehicle info.

Windows and even walls, need to be as hard to get through as doors.

The trouble with monitoring and recording, is usually you will never find out who they are. Better to catch them in the act. Even better to prevent the act.

Personally, I would find a way to keep an intruder there until they could be arrested. Done all the time in commercial locations.

Bill

 

[lml999]

As mentioned above...motion sensor lights, motion sensor radio.

No keys in the car.

When I had bicycles in the garage, they were locked via a long, anchored cable. (This wouldn't deter a committed thief; it kept someone from doing a smash and grab, or just a grab if I left the garage door open.)

These days we live in a more country setting. I'd guess that half the houses in the neighborhood are always left unlocked, garage doors open. There's some random drug-fueled crime within a few miles, so I keep our place a bit more secure, perhaps, than some of my neighbors. Our house looks lived in year round.

I'm a big fan of motion sensor lights (solar powered). I also have a couple of small LED lights "Fake TV" that, from the outside, make it look like someone's watching tv.

That having been said, most break-ins, I understand, are daytime events. Newspapers get picked up daily, mail collected, lawn mowed, alarm stickers on doors and windows.

And I don't post my personal address for ebay, Craigslist, etc. I don't "broadcast" that something of value is at the house...

 

[roguegts]

+1 on keeping the $$ stuff out of view. My $$ tools (bosch, milwaukee, etc) are in a built in cabinet i made with solid core doors (to match the house) wuth a keypad style deadbolt lock. Yeah its all wood construction with a steel angle that the deadbolt penetrates, but all the useful tools to breach it are locked inside.

Biggest thing is keep the door closed and at least have the appearance of it being reasonably well protected.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[A**holes Garage]

I remodeled the garage a few years back and added CCTV, steel window blinds and a door cross bar.

 

[RWorth]

I have cameras outside that are very conspicuous. They cover any access to my yard 360 degrees.

 

[6768rogues]

If I am away I turn off the power to the garage door openers. On three occasions I have seen operators that opened and burned out from lightning strikes, leaving the door up. And I put a C-clamp on each garage door track so the door cannot be forced up.

 

[Copymutt]

I've drilled the vertical OH door tracks to accept padlocks just below one of the rollers. This prevents the door safety trips from being slim jimed or the door forced up.
Just discovered yesterday you can use Echos, Alexa's as an intercom and a listening device from other units.

Jim

 

[Lelandwelds]

I don't allow "visitors" in the garage. No neighbors, or friends of friends. Only a couple people I know even know where I live.
I seldom have the door open, and the garage is back gar enough from the street that it's difficult to see in.
We've had large German shepherds the whole time we been here.
Dusk to dawn lights on the front of the garage and back of the house.

This limits the thievery suspects to friends and family. Makes for interesting holidays.

 

[4 FN 27]

Deadbolts, Security System, Line Cut Sensor, Wireless Dialer Back-up, Glass Break detection, Motion across all openings, Perimeter Contact Sensors. Video...video is just for replaying what happened should something happen.

Getting to know the local LEO's. If we do leave for more than 24 hours we notify the LEO and they add us in on a "Vacation Check" where the deputies will inspect our property daily.

We have had 2 walk-ins in the middle of the night. First was when we first moved in. I forgot to deadbolt the back door to the Garage attached to the house. That door has a 30 second delay so you can turn the alarm off. The perp had 30 seconds before the siren went off. Got the door open on my pick-up and that was about it. Nothing missing...Sheriff arrived within 3 minutes. They did not catch the perp.

My take away from the experience is we need a plan. In the confusion of the alarm going off, me grabbing my firearm my Wife got in front of me...bad position to be in and she headed down the hallway...bad move and I followed until I came to my senses and we changed order and retreated back to the bedroom and called 911.

Now we have a practiced plan.

The second one my Wife received a big package at the front door and just kicked the door shut...not locking the deadbolt. A few nights later again another walk-in. This time we stuck to the plan, secured the upstairs, called 911 and waited. 12 min response time. Again perp was not caught.

Been all quiet since 2011 so we are due again...hate to say it...but we have a plan.

We live about a 1/2-3/4 mile from a Bike Trail. The criminals use it to get close, do a walk-in and grab or smash and grab and head off through the woods back to the bike trail.

 

[lml999]

In the confusion of the alarm going off, me grabbing my firearm my Wife got in front of me...bad position to be in and she headed down the hallway..

Wait...while you stopped to pick up your firearm, rather than waiting, your wife headed towards the perp?

She must be a bad-***!

 

[ChaseDE]

Do you guys live in Iraq? geez!

 

[crewchief888]

This limits the thievery suspects to friends and family. Makes for interesting holidays.

for the most part, nobody has any interest in whats inside my garage.
most couldnt identify 5% of what's in there

it's dark, dusty, dirty and full of cobwebs....

wife rarely goes in there unless her car is parked inside, and that hasnt happened in over a year, even the dog stays out

 

[4 FN 27]

Wait...while you stopped to pick up your firearm, rather than waiting, your wife headed towards the perp?

Yes

She must be a bad-***!

Bad judgment.

She can shoot however...

4 years ago on a Monday evening she called me saying an old guy was repeatedly ringing our door bell and rattling the handle. I told her to hang up and call 911. She said she didn't want to bother them...yes she is crazy...so I told her to hang up with me, call 911 from the house phone and I would call her back on her cell.

She complied. I called 2 minutes later and she was on the phone with the dispatcher and me while holding her 1911 chambered in 9mm while this guy started trying different doors on the house.

After a minute or so he got in his car and started down the driveway so it appeared. Instead he headed to the backyard/lower garage. She could no longer see him. I was on my way about 5 minutes out and she was calm as could be knowing that if she had to she would do what she had to do. The dispatcher kept he up to speed with where the officers were.

Then the guy decides to leave. Just as he is pulling away the Deputies were pulling in. She ran down and said the white Cadillac heading south is the guy. 1 chased down the Caddy and the other pulled in up to the house.

She had sense enough to leave the 1911 up in the Bonus Room above the Garage so she would not get shot by the Deputy. Part of that planning...

Make a really long story short they showed us pics of the guy and neither of us recognized him. They asked a lot of questions around us having shady dealings and this guy is there to "collect". I assured them nothing like that was going on. About 5 minutes later another deputy pulled in the driveway and asked if our house was in foreclosure?? I said no we don't have a payment. They said he is a process server. He was serving the wrong house.

I had them explain to the guy he almost got shot. Had he opened anyone of those doors he would have gotten it. Lucky for him they were all locked.

The Deputies were impressed with the way my Wife handled the situation. As was I. Not sure if this qualifiers her as a bad ***...but at 105 lbs and 5' 4" maybe...

 

[Higgins]

Install a burglar bomb to go off 15 seconds after entry, no one will stick around! Works great !!

https://www.burglarbomb.com/

 

[UglySign]

I don't allow "visitors" in the garage. No neighbors, or friends of friends. Only a couple people I know even know where I live....

This works & works well. What they dont know doesnt hurt.
People talk and it's the right ears that listen.
Gotta watch those meter readers too.

 

[Stuart in MN]

The simplest things are going to give you the biggest bang for your buck. First, keep the doors closed and locked. Make sure the passage door has a decent deadbolt and a reinforced jamb, chances are a burglar's preferred choice of entry will be a swift kick to the door. Tie the garage into your home security system (and don't forget to include rate of rise heat sensors to detect a fire, I think that's probably a greater risk than a burglary.) Make sure there's a LOUD siren on the security system in the garage - someone broke into my garage some years ago, and that was what scared them away. Dogs and guns are fine, but they won't do any good if you're not home and you brought your dog with you.

 

[lml999]

Not sure if this qualifiers her as a bad ***...but at 105 lbs and 5' 4" maybe...

Yep. Bad ***!

 

[Toolfool]

Deadbolts, camera's, motion-sensor floodlights, and these ........
(the only time they leave the property is for vet visits)

 

[Stuart in MN]

(the only time they leave the property is for vet visits)

You're unusual these days...most people I know who own dogs take them everywhere (in stores, restaurants, even to work if they can.)

 

[n20junkie]

Garage built without windows.

Man door and overhead on house side within view, and with soffit lighting on at night.

My tools are safe, but someone rolling an 80k race car down the driveway is the stuff of nightmares.

 

[flat tire]

don't let the look fool you

 

[Parrothead]

I have a 'smart' outlet in the ceiling and every night it is set to turn the power off and then back on in the morning. (It's a Z wave outlet)

That’s something I hadn’t thought of! Good idea!

 

[garage guy1of38]

Technology is great but.....

 

[Garett]

I'll put padlocks on the garage doors when away. My alarm is DSC with lots of wired motion sensors. I really want to switch to a Ethernet system, I need to do some research on these.

 

[roguegts]

I'll put padlocks on the garage doors when away. My alarm is DSC with lots of wired motion sensors. I really want to switch to a Ethernet system, I need to do some research on these.

Ipdatatel BAT will make your existing system internet connected with a cellular backup. Pretty inexpensive and works really well.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[Killer95Stang]

Ipdatatel BAT will make your existing system internet connected with a cellular backup. Pretty inexpensive and works really well.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

Envisalink is a very cheap upgrade for DSC alarms that allows you to self monitor or use their monitoring service. Real easy DIY install and up and running in 30 minutes...

 

[crewchief888]

This works & works well. What they dont know doesnt hurt.
People talk and it's the right ears that listen.
Gotta watch those meter readers too.

gas and electric are remote monitored here. they dont have to even be on the property to read them. when we still had meters that had to be "accessed" they always came to the door and asked permission, knowing we have a large GSD. if no one answered, they came back later in the day or left a mail in tag on the door.

ive always kept the house and garage contents a "secret". at my last house, only immediate family was ever in the house, my neighbors didnt like me, and i wasnt on speaking terms with any of them. once in 12 years i lived there did any neighbor even acknowledge that i lived next door....

 

[DennisRoy]

Security lights and camera here. I also have a stereo playing just loud enough to hear outside when the doors are shut. Let them think someone is inside. I live in a rural area so this doesn't bother neighbors.

That's a good suggestion. I never thought of that... Thanks for the share.

 

[DennisRoy]

don't let the look fool you

He's cute.

 

[DennisRoy]

That’s something I hadn’t thought of! Good idea!

Me too...

 

[RNN14Wolfe]

My garage door tracks are drilled for padlocks and the drive motor gets disconnected when not in use, we don't park our daily drivers in the garage and have no need for an opener in any of our cars, except for my classic that gets parked inside. Even then after pulling the car out, I go back in the garage, close the door and then padlock it. My Matco tool box and all my welders/compressor and everything else including very expensive bikes and motorcycles are in there too. I have one of my security system cameras inside the garage and it's set to take video and pictures whenever it's armed and senses motion. Plus my Matco rollaway is chained to a concrete anchor, anything inside the garage that could possibly cut the chain is locked up and out of reach.

My wife thinks I'm paranoid and she ******* all the time about the extra steps required to open the garage door, but I don't care, if my tools went missing, I'd be fucked. That's my whole life and how I make my living sitting there. Normally it would all be at my employer, but I'm working overseas right now so they're at home.