How to Stop Garage Break-ins

You likely have spent plenty of time making sure that thieves won't have an easy time breaking into your home through a window or door, but have you given your garage the same treatment?

An attached garage is a favorite target for thieves because gaining entry through the garage can mean access to the whole house. The fact that many homeowners don't think as much about the garage only makes it a more inviting target. Fortunately, there's plenty you can do to make your garage more secure.  Here are five home improvement and security tips to get you started.

1. Secure Your Garage Door Remote
   You'd be surprised by how many break-ins occur when a thief simply finds the garage door remote. Many homeowners will leave their garage door remote in their car, and then park the car in the driveway outside. Thieves know this habit well, so don't make the mistake of leaving your remote in your car – even if the car is locked.
   
   
2. Cover Garage Door Windows
   The garage is an easy entry point and criminals will target it. They also know that valuable items can be waiting in the garage, even if they never make it all the way inside the home. Keep prying eyes away from your garage by installing privacy film over windows, so that thieves will have a tougher time seeing what you have stored inside.
   
   
3. Lock Doors and Windows
   Does your garage have a "regular" door for foot traffic, or a few windows to let in the sunlight when you're working on a project in the garage? It can be really easy to forget those entry points, especially if you usually enter through the main garage door. Make sure that any other doors and windows in your garage are always locked so that thieves won't have an easy way inside.
   
   
4. Block the Emergency Cord
   Automatic garage door openers have an emergency cord so that you can open the door if other systems are failing. Thieves know about the emergency cord and can use it to gain entry into the garage. Use a zip-tie to make it much harder for thieves to trigger the emergency cord, or purchase a device designed specifically for the purpose.
   
   
5. Motion-Sensor Lights and Home Security Systems
   To go a little more high-tech with garage security, you have a few good options. Motion-sensor lights are affordable, easy to install and work as a great deterrent for thieves. Instead of being able to sneak around unnoticed, they'll be greeted with a big, bright light that reveals exactly where they are and what they're doing. A home security system is also a great way to add an extra layer of security to your garage, and throughout your whole house. Installing a security system may require a bigger home improvement investment, but it also provides real peace of mind.

Taking care of your garage is a key step in home security, and you don't have to spend a ton of cash to make it much harder for thieves to break in through your garage. Considering how many valuables are often stored in the garage and how easy it is to gain access to the rest of the home once inside, making a little effort to secure your garage is a smart home improvement decision.

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