Last Updated on February, 2025
When we think of burglaries, the first thing that comes to mind is someone picking the lock to our front door or coming through a window. However, burglars have a far more convenient way of entering your home, and that’s through your garage.
While most thieves target attached garages to gain access to homes, some may rob you blind without ever stepping foot in your house.
The average UK household stores nearly £10,000 worth of valuables in its garage alone. Despite this, many homeowners neglect garage doors when installing security measures, making that part of the house a prime target for burglars.
When it comes to garage door security, you should always assume the worst and prepare accordingly. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to make your garage door more secure from both the inside and outside.
Let’s begin!
Quick Summary
- Many homeowners neglect securing their garage doors, even though they store valuable items and burglars often target them for easy access.
- Suggestions include installing cameras, hiding valuables, covering windows inside, and using smart technology, additional locks, or garage security systems on the exterior.
- Replacing old garage doors with steel or vinyl doors, reinforcing weak spots, and keeping the area well-lit can significantly reduce the risk of break-ins.
How to Secure Garage Door From the Inside?
Securing the interior of your garage is just as important as the exterior if you want to reduce the possibility of break-ins.
Here are some measures you can take.
Install Interior Cameras
Security cameras have always been a burglar’s number one enemy. Thanks to their constant surveillance, they keep the inside of your garage safe and make life extremely difficult for potential thieves.
Modern cameras use ultrasonic waves and passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect movement. This means they can sense when your garage doors are being opened or when a person walks into the frame.
They also use infrared night vision to capture footage after dark, allowing you to keep your garage lights off and save energy.
Install your security camera at a far corner of the garage and at an angle where it has a good view of the whole interior.
Keep Your Valuables Hidden
If you use your garage to store valuable items, you should take measures to hide them from view. You never know who could be watching when the garage door is open, and if a thief spots items with resale value, they could make you their next target.
Take a moment to inspect your garage and find items that might attract unwanted attention. These could be electronics, antiques, expensive power tools, etc.
Instead of leaving them lying around, consider installing garage cabinets to hide the items. Always keep them locked to prevent theft.
Organising your tools and other valuables this way will make the garage interior appear empty, which tells thieves that there’s nothing to steal or that the items are heavily secured.
On the other hand, cluttered garages give them the impression that there are many things to steal, increasing the chance of a break-in.
Cover the Garage Windows
Transparent windows give burglars a clear view of your garage interior and its contents. They will find out whether anyone is home, what high-value items they can steal, and how strong or weak your security measures are.
Covering your windows is an effective way to deter burglars, as most won’t enter a garage without knowing what the interior looks like.
You can install blinds or shutters to obscure the garage door windows. You can also use tinted glass or frosted film, as they let you cover your windows while still allowing light into the garage.
How to Secure Garage Door From the Outside?
A secure garage interior will mean little if a burglar finds easy access from the outside. Here are some proven methods to secure the exterior of your garage door.
Get a Smart Garage Door Opener
While still used in some households, manual doors are outdated and are often not the best for garage security. In comparison, remote garage door openers offer convenience and increased protection against burglars.
Garage door openers use smart technology to send alerts to your phone whenever someone tries to force the door open. The smartphone app also lets you control your garage door with a touch of the screen, meaning you can close it even if you are away from home.
Automating your garage door doesn’t always involve replacing it, as some manual doors can be converted to support remote openers. You can consult a professional installer to find out whether your door is compatible.
An alternative to a garage door opener is a WiFi monitor, which you can install to the door frame and connect to your mobile device. The monitor will alert you if the door opens or closes, making you aware of intruders right away.
Install Additional Locks
A cost-effective way to strengthen garage door security is to add exterior locks.
This is an essential measure for manual doors, but even an automatic opener won’t work 100% of the time. Regardless of what type you have, adding extra locks to your garage door will give you peace of mind when away from home.
Various lock types will work well on the exterior of your garage door. These include anti-snap locks, steel security bars fitted horizontally across the door, and shields that protect the emergency override function.
Install a Garage Security System
Houses with garage security systems are far less likely to be targeted by burglars. Modern systems are easy to install and consist of a loud alarm and motion-sensor cameras.
The alarm will sound off if someone tries to open the door, alerting you or your neighbours about a break-in. If you happen to be away from home, the smartphone app synced to the alarm will send you a notification.
You can configure your security cameras to work in the same way. They will alert you via the app if burglars break in or come near your garage door. Once you get the notification, inform your local police department, and they will handle the rest.
Install Floodlights to Improve Exterior Lighting
Some thieves prefer to work at night, as they can use the darkness and silence to their advantage. Keeping your garage area well-lit is a great way to deter burglars. Most will not risk exposing themselves and being seen by you or your neighbours.
Motion-detecting floodlights are especially popular among UK homeowners. They are more suitable for garage security than spotlights, as they cover a wider area and can detect movement from 20-30 metres away.
The illumination allows your security cameras to capture better footage, while the motion sensors act as a visual alarm for suspicious activity in your front yard or driveway.
Replace Your Garage Door
Installing a new garage door will drastically reduce your chances of being robbed. While replacements can be expensive, they may also be well overdue, especially if your door is old or in bad condition.
Design and construction play a big role in how secure your door is. If you have a wooden door, consider upgrading to steel or vinyl.
The latter has better weather protection, but steel garage doors are more durable and provide greater resistance against break-ins. Moreover, the look of a steel door alone may be enough to dissuade thieves.
An added measure you can take is to replace the strike plate on your garage door. Strike plates are the most vulnerable parts of garage doors, so reinforcing yours will eliminate it as a potential access point for thieves.
Call GRL for garage door replacement service.
Additional Tips to Improve Garage Door Security
Here are some additional measures you can take to improve garage security.
Don’t Leave Your Garage Door Open for Too Long
Leaving your garage door open for long periods will attract unwanted attention. A potential burglar could spot your valuables and decide to target your garage. They could also take note of your security measures (or lack thereof) and start spying on you as they plan the robbery.
Maintain Your Yard
A burglar will prefer to move through dark or shadowy areas, such as those with overgrown foliage. Regularly trimming your bushes or hedges will create more open space, making your house a less attractive target.
Avoid Keeping Your Garage Door Opener in the Car
Your garage door opener offers improved protection and convenience but could cause disaster in the wrong hands. It’s common practice to clip your remote to the car’s sun visor or store it in the glove box. However, doing so leaves it vulnerable to theft.
The ideal place to store a garage remote is in the same place as your car keys.
Always Keep the Interior Access Door Locked
Having an attached garage puts your house at extra risk of being robbed. If burglars enter your garage, the only thing stopping them from coming into your home is the connecting door. As such, it’s vital to keep this door locked at all times.
We recommend securing it with a deadbolt lock for maximum protection.
Hide Your Tools
A burglar can use simple tools like hammers or hedge cutters to break locks and windows, granting them access to your garage. Ensure that you always keep your tools in a secure place, such as your shed or a garage cabinet.
Why Garage Security is Important?
While UK crime rates have been decreasing every year, burglars remain a prevalent threat. Even in 2024, statistics suggest that a burglary occurs every 106 seconds in the UK.
A garage is often the least secure part of a house, making it a favourite area for robbers. While some may enter through it to get into your home, others might specifically target the garage’s contents.
This is because garages often house items such as electronics, antiques, and expensive tools. Thieves will steal them for their resale value and potentially cost you thousands of pounds.
Considering these factors, it makes sense to improve your garage door security sooner rather than later. Depending on your budget, you can obtain a new garage door or reinforce your current one.
How Do Burglars Open Garage Doors?
A burglar can get past your garage door in several ways. Here are some of the most common ones.
Garage remote theft: A thief may steal your remote garage opener. To do this, they might invade your house or gain access to your car. With the remote, they can open your garage with the push of a button and easily break in.
Hooking the emergency release lever: Automatic garage doors feature a lever that lets you open or close the door during a power outage. By pushing on the top of the garage door, a thief can use the opening to access the lever or the cord attached to it. They will use a wire hook to pull either the cord or the lever and manually open the garage door.
Breaking in manually: Some burglars may try to pick your garage door lock and open it manually. They may also use any tools you left outside to break the garage windows.
Can Your Garage Door Security System Be Hacked?
While automatic garage systems provide more security, they might still be vulnerable to hackers. Burglars can hack your system by replaying the transmission that occurs when your remote opens the garage door.
In older garage door security systems, the remote and the door always communicate with the same code. As a result, a hacker that obtains this code can recreate it. Once your automated system receives the code, the garage door opens.
Most newer garage systems use a rolling code instead of a fixed code. A rolling code means that each time the remote opens the garage door, it uses a different password. This makes it more difficult for thieves to hack your system.
Are Garage Break-ins Insured in the UK?
Home insurance policies generally include coverage for attached and detached garages. The policy should compensate you for any damages that occur to your garage as a result of a robbery.
You may have to meet certain criteria to be eligible for compensation, and terms will vary for different policies.
In the case of stolen tools or equipment, your personal property insurance will cover you for the losses. Meanwhile, any damages caused to your vehicle will fall under your car insurance policy, and you will be compensated accordingly.
Relevant guides:
Conclusion
There are many ways to secure your garage door from the inside and outside, and the key is to implement them as soon as possible.
Remember, there could be someone planning a break-in at this very moment. However, by following the security measures shown in this article, you can ensure that those plans never become reality.