Garage break-ins on the rise: Understanding the motives of thieves
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In today's world, it's essential to take precautions to safeguard our homes and belongings from potential burglaries. One often overlooked area is the garage, which can be a prime target for thieves seeking cars, power tools, bikes, sporting equipment, and other valuables. Here are some effective strategies to secure high-value items stored in garages.
Lock and Secure Your Garage
The first line of defence is to keep the garage closed and locked at all times. Ideally, consider using a smart garage door system that can automatically close and alert you if left open. This simple measure can significantly reduce the chances of a burglary.
Avoid Displaying Valuables
Avoid displaying valuable items or luxury vehicles visibly through glass garage doors or open garages. Solid doors or frosted/tinted glass can help reduce visibility, making it less appealing to thieves.
Store Valuables Securely
Store high-value items in secure, locked spaces within the garage. Lockable cabinets, padlocked storage units, or wall-anchored containers can make them harder to access and less attractive targets.
Upgrade Your Locks
Use high-quality locks, including smart locks, on entry points to ensure access control and receive notifications of any unauthorized attempts.
Improve Surveillance
Enhance the garage’s security through surveillance like CCTV monitoring coupled with deterrents such as warning decals. These measures can discourage burglars by increasing their risk of being caught.
Maintain a Tidy and Well-Lit Garage
Keeping the garage organized and well-lit can reduce clutter and dark hiding spots, making it less appealing to intruders and easier to notice suspicious activity.
Address Extra Challenges in Communal Garages
Basement car parks in communal garages are particularly susceptible to theft from storage cages and unlocked cars. In such cases, using plastic sheeting or similar to line the security cage can deter potential burglars.
Check Your Insurance Policy
Homeowners are advised to check that their home insurance policy is up to date, especially if they have made significant improvements to their garage security.
Additional Measures
An automatic garage door lock can deadbolt the garage door every time it is closed, while motion-activated sensor lights and security cameras can further deter burglars. Remember, never leave the garage remote in the car, and do not let a car follow you through a gate into a garage unless you are sure that they are a resident.
By implementing these measures, homeowners can significantly reduce their vulnerability to garage burglaries. Minimizing visible indicators of wealth, restricting easy access, and increasing the likelihood of detection or deterrence are key to maintaining the security of your garage and belongings.
- To fortify your home-and-garden security, consider enhancing the surveillance in your garage by installing CCTV monitoring and warning decals as deterrents.
- Keeping a tidy lifestyle in your garage, complete with well-lit spaces and secure storage, can make it less attractive to potential intruders seeking to commit crime-and-justice, such as burglaries.
