It's amazing how many people install sophisticated home security systems without giving much thought to garage doors and their security. Even if you have a detached garage, it's important to consider this part of your home. Cars are some of our most costly possessions--and they're the easiest to drive away!--so you'll want to make sure yours is safe. Also, if you have tools in the garage, know that if a burglar gained access he could use them against you to get into the house (the homeowner's own ladders are often used by thieves to gain access to unlocked second story windows).

So what can you do to make sure your garage security is ironclad? Pay special attention to the doors!

Garage Doors

Don't rely solely on automatic garage door openers for security--you should install a separate keyed lock as well. Also, if you have a garage door opener unit that is from earlier than the 1990s, consider upgrading it to a modern unit.

("Older garage door openers relied on a unique I.D. number programmed into each remote and the receiver sold with it. If the remote sends the right I.D. to the receiver, the receiver opens the garage door. Rolling code technology, introduced in the early 1990's, added another layer of security by ensuring that a garage door opener never transmits the same sequence twice. As implemented by Chamberlain in its Liftmaster Security+ line of garage door openers, the remote and the receiver keep internal counters that begin in synch, and are incremented by a constant value (three) each time the door is opened. When the user presses the button on the remote, the remote transmits the current value of the counter, along with the static I.D. number. The receiver will only open the garage door if both numbers are correct." -- "Garage Door DMCA Case Dismissed" from securityforcus.com))

If you are going to be away from home overnight, it's wise to use a padlock and hasp to secure the door leading from the (attached) garage into the house. Taking a longer trip? Consider placing a padlock through the garage door track just above one of the rollers. This will keep out those techy burglars who can tinker with automatic door opener devices to trick residential units into opening.

Of all your exterior doors your garage door is likely to be the most vulnerable. It is the door most likely to be left unlocked and even left open.

If you have an attached garage with a door through to the rest of the house, this is a double security risk. Once inside your garage the thief can work unseen on breaking through that connecting access door.

Burglars love cover, they can take their time if there is little chance of being observed, being inside your garage is the perfect cover.

You should treat an access door to your home as an external door, not an internal one even though it is inside your garage. Make sure that it is fitted with a good deadbolt lock, is of solid construction and that the frame is strong and in good condition. The garage access door should be as secure as your front door.

Even if you have a detached garage or there is no access door to the rest of your home, you still do not want a burglar in your garage. Think, what do you keep in there, apart from your automobile that is, likely you keep a whole lot of items many of which will be valuable to you. Golf clubs and other sports equipment, various tools, bicycles, maybe even your power mower. You do not want these things stolen, it pays to think about garage door security.

(In particular you do not want thieves getting their hands on those tools stored in your garage, they can and will use them to break into the rest of your home.)

It's a fact, many home burglaries are committed via a garage door left open or unlocked. It is all too easy to think that as you are only going to drive to the store, spend a few minutes there, and come right home again, it is not worth closing and locking your garage door. . .

Wrong!

All the thief needs is a few minutes, probably less. Sure, it can be a pain backing out the garage, stopping to close the door and lock up, only to unlock and open up again when you return. But, unless you have an automatic garage door opener it's what you have to do, it's common sense garage door security.

When you think about it, there is absolutely no difference between having the best garage door security and the poorest . . . 

if you don't use it!

If you often leave the door to your garage open simply because you forget to close it, think about installing a wireless garage door monitor. These are easy to install and will warn you, usually by a flashing l.e.d. and a beep, that the door is open.

When the first generation of garage door openers went on sale, many years ago, much was made of the convenience of having the door to your garage open at the press of a button. However, no thought was given to garage door security.

All of the remotes used the same code. When the thieves caught on to this fact they armed themselves with a remote transmitter and had themselves a field day.

To overcome this issue, second generation remote transmitters were introduced that included a row of dip switches. It was necessary to change the setting of these switches, usually a row of 8 – 12, from the default setting and change also the dip switches in the garage opener system box.

Unfortunately many homeowners forgot to do this and a thief with a remote set at default could open the door.

The latest generation of garage door openers employ rolling code technology (hopping code) to use one of millions of different codes every time you use the remote.

As a new code is generated with each use, there are no switches to set - and it is virtually impossible for thieves to “grab” your code. This means that automatic garage door openers can be used without garage door security concerns.

Do not leave the remote in your car, should a thief break in to your car and steal the remote he has a way into your home. Consider purchasing a key-chain remote. You should be able to find one compatible with your system.

Your garage door is only as secure as its weakest link. It is of little benefit in having the best of locks if the door itself is flimsy. Likewise a strong and sturdy garage door will not give you the best security if it is fitted in a weak frame.

Garage doors get a lot of use, eventually they will show signs of wear and tear. It will pay you to regularly check the condition of the door and frame, check for any sign of rot or corrosion.

Look with the eyes of a burglar, how would you break in to your garage? Are the doors constructed out of a single sheet of metal or fiberglass? If so, it is possible a burglar could gain leverage and bend them enough to get inside, he could not easily do so with reinforced steel or solid core wood.

• Make sure the door from your garage into your house is as secure as your front door.
• Always lock the door from your garage into your house.
• Ensure that the door to your garage is in good condition.
• For effective garage door security keep it closed and locked at all times.
• Do not leave your door opener in your vehicle.