Securing the garage

[XLexusTech]

A few neighbors have had break ins to thier homes in the last few weeks. Anyone have any ideas on how to sure up ther garage?

Specifically the windows perhaps some home fab bars?

[Norwoodx55]

I would do some bars, even if they were installed on the inside. A Smith&Wesson sticker on the window couldn't hurt either.

[72nova]

I did some bars on my service door on the inside. Very easy, Angle iron above and below window and in the middle with bars running between them. My dad did this to the windows in his garage also.

[mjoc1]

I would try to get one of those electro magnetic locks and a good video system. So if you see someone trying to break into your garage let them get in then turn on the locks. then show up in the garage with the gun and a knife. thru the knife and tell him to pick it up. Then guess what happens. Oh my god some guy broke into my house and tried to hurt my family. double shot to the chest and head. problem solved.

Piss of sh*t thieves.

Mike

[wayne70]

when i built my garage the plan from the start was no window's, and all the door's face the house. If i see someone near the garage i will let the dog's out and see what is left in 5 min.

[avewhtboy]

I have a big dog that hangs out in my garage.

[shortrack]

Also, if your man door has a window replace the door with a solid one.....so easy to smash the window, reach in and unlock the door.....was at my old house a year before I realized none of the three windows in the garage had blinds.....anyone could look in and see all my stuff.

[dropit69]

another good thing is to hook your opener outlets to a switch ..when you leave out the walk door flip it off then no one can code the door open..or if they get in they cant open the door to get big items out..or at least take them a while to find the switch..we have had our garage broke into and they got all my stereo stuff and my brothers..man did that feeling suck !!!

[TonyHuntimer]

If you have a door that opens outward (like I had on my older house), it's easy pop the hinge pins out and pull the door out of the frame to enter...within seconds. Remove one screw from each hinge on the "casing" side. Drive a Duplex Nail into the hole.


Then remove the oposite facing screw and drill out the hole. The duplex head will stick into the other half of the hinge when the door is closed...This keeps the door from being pulled off the frame when the hinge pins are removed.

If your "man" door has a glass pane to brake, or an ultra-thin wooden panel at the bottom...it's easy to brake either and unlock the door. If you don't want to spend money on a new door, you can attach heavy-duty expanded metal mesh over the door with screws or carriage bolts.


If you have windows, make sure nobody can see in. Put some alarm company stickers on the windows.

Get a trunk monkey for the shop.

[BonzoHansen]

black pipe makes for easy bars over windows

[XLexusTech]

Put a solid metal door on today (replaced the wooden one with windows)

Was thinkig some rebar... Black pipe sounds good tooo..

[67CamNKC]

Covered garage door windows and put in a solid walk in door today.

[dcozzi]

If you have a house alarm system, add a dual technology motion detector and contact the man and overhead doors. Put the overhead door on a switch like previously stated. Bar the windows and give the dog access to the garage when you are not there.

[KWIKND]

The dirt bags will also hole saw through your garage door top section and just pull the release rope for the operator.
Dan

[fmk123ster]

mods please delete

[Desert68]

If you have a house alarm system, add a dual technology motion detector and contact the man and overhead doors. Put the overhead door on a switch like previously stated. Bar the windows and give the dog access to the garage when you are not there.

You can have a monitored security system or a stand alone system. Door/window contacts, a couple motion detectors and a siren and you'd be good to go. Regarding glass, glass is nice for the natural lighting as well as just simply being able to see outside. There's a number of window films and 'armored' glass or 'hurricane' glass that is guaranteed to keep lowlifes out. Glassbreaks combined with the motions would also work for existing glass. Just be sure the glassbreaks are placed properly and are matched to the type of glass. Use basic commercial grade gear and the cost will still be reasonable and the system will last for years, plus you can remove it and take it with you if you move. Steer clear of the large outfits and find a decent, local low voltage guy - there's plenty out there. My personal opinion is to not trust the security of expensive tools, cars, bikes, etc, to just physical security. Use physical security and a security system. Surveillance is much more expensive. Don't be misled by cheap CCTV stuff you see at Home Depot or Costco, it's junk. The effort and creativity people put into stealing from individuals and businesses never ceases to amaze me. Any questions, just ask, it's what I do for a living.

[6'9"Witha69]

No windows here. Double walled security door off my side yard and a rollup with pad loks on the rails (both sides). I don't park DDs in the garage, so I made it as secure as possible.

[41565 chevelle]

I frosted the glass panes on the top of my garage door so nobody could look in and see what was there. Burglars will knock on the door, check the garage and see if a car is there and then work around the side to the back and make entry from there. Most common point of entry I have see taking burglary reports for years.

[Randy67]

The dirt bags will also hole saw through your garage door top section and just pull the release rope for the operator.
Dan

My doors don't have the rope on them. Previous owner never put them on. All I have to do is put a hook on the end of a broom handle and can release the door when needed. I do need to black out the windows on the doors though. The garage door locks still work, not defeated like normally with door openers, so I can still lock them. I usually kill the breaker when I'm gone so they can't easily open the doors, unless they turn them back on (wishing breaker box was inside house).