How do you secure your home?
If you’re like the majority of the people, you will most likely have applied one or two, or even all of these tips.
You have secured your doors and windows with locks and sensors. You’ve upgraded your door locks with smart locks.
You’ve also bought a home security system so that authorities are immediately notified when it activates. Home security cameras are also in place to catch the person’s face.
And, of course, you have outdoor lighting and a combination lockbox for your spare key.
There’s one more thing to consider.
The garage. It’s a weak link in your otherwise solid chain of defense.
Thankfully, there are ways to remedy that and they range from cheap and effective to budget-busting and darn-near guaranteed.
You can implement one or none, just take your pick.
Adam of How To Home YouTube channel shares how thieves can break in through the garage.
Thankfully, he also shows how to secure your garage and home from these would-be burglars.
1. Accessing the garage opener cord
Your garage door most likely has a release cord that you can pull down to activate its opening mechanism. Thieves can use that to open your garage door and gain access to your house.
What they’ll do is get a makeshift hook, like a twisted, bent hanger, and fish around above the garage door for that cord.
Once they can take it with the hook over the garage door, they’ll be able to open it and get access to your door.
The easiest way to deny the thieves access to this cord is to make it harder for them to get it.
This release cord usually comes with a tab you can hold onto when you use it. Remove that tab.
This will make it harder for a hook to hold onto the cord. Similarly, cut the cord long enough for you or a family member to reach it but not long enough that it can be accessed outside.
2. Lock your car doors
Some people leave their cars unlocked outside the garage. Unfortunately, you never know who will be tempted to steal from your house.
Once they check that your door is unlocked, they’ll search your car for the garage door opener and open it easily.
Better safe than sorry. Always lock your door, no matter how safe you believe it is in your neighborhood.
Or you can use a garage door opener that comes in a keychain so you can bring it in the house with you. You can also use a smart lock for your garage door so you can use your phone to open and close it.
3. Use a pool noodle
Just when you thought pool noodles are only for pools, people will surprise you.
Pool noodles are a great way to “hide” the release cord and still give you the manual access you need to open the door.
Measure the cord with enough allowance for the top and bottom. Cut the pool noodle according to your measurements and insert the cord.
This way, even if the thief manages to hook the noodle, they won’t be able to fish it outside.
4. Manual lock
If you’re going to be away from your house for more than a day, it’s a good idea to attach safety locks on the sides of your garage door.
The door will already have notches and holes on it so it’s just a matter of figuring out how many locks you’ll need.
Remember that you locked this when you come back because if you try to open the door with the locks on, you’ll most likely damage the garage door.
5. Remove the plug
If you’re going to be gone for a while and no one will be house-sitting for you, then you can unplug your garage door opening mechanism.
Even if the thieves manage to get your door opener or figure out a way to get access to it, they won’t be able to open it because there won’t be any power.
Make sure to employ the hacks for the cords because they can still get manual access to open your door if there’s no power.
What do you think of these security hacks?
Will you use them?
Learn more ways to secure your home in the video below!
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