If you’re looking for ways to make your garage safer, here are four areas to focus on:

1. Lighting

First, make sure the garage has appropriate lighting. Thieves love hiding in the dark and when an access point to a home is poorly lit, it makes their ability to hide that much easier. Install appropriate lighting on the garage door, but also in the rest of the garage (especially near any other doors). 

A good route to take would be with motion-activated lighting, which will only go off when there is activity in or near the garage. Other lighting options that can beef up your garage security include flood lights, and smart lighting.

2. Cameras

Adding the ability to monitor your garage, and record activity isn’t a bad idea, either. Many homeowners choose to put a spotlight camera above their garage so they have a good view of the garage entrance, and the entrance to the home itself. Adding another camera inside the garage is a good choice as well. Since many video cameras these days are smartphone-compatible, you can check in on your garage at any time.

3. Remote

Ask any security expert about leaving garage remotes on the visor of your vehicle, and they’ll tell you it’s a bad idea. Thieves know you keep your garage remote there, and can treat it basically like a free key to your home if a thief accesses your vehicle while it’s out. Instead, consider investing in a garage motor that is compatible with a smartphone app. That way, you can keep your garage access on your person and you remove a potentially vulnerable area of your home. Some cars offer built-in garage remotes, and if your car has this feature we recommend ditching your traditional garage remote, and using it. 

4. Access

Finally, think about all the access points in the garage. Many homes have a side access door in the garage, and nearly all have a home access door from the garage. The latter is especially important to secure, as it directly impacts your safety, so make sure your locks are installed, and working properly. Additional options for beefing up your access security in your garage include lock rekeying, lock repair, lock replacement and more. Not sure what to do? A locksmith can give you advice.

If you’re interested in more residential security insights, contact us today or visit any one of our Dallas-Fort Worth locations.

There are ways to improve its dependability, however. Let’s go over a few of them. Here are four ways to improve the security of your garage door:

1. Install a Modern Opener

Old garage door openers present a variety of issues. Not only will the door’s opening and closing drain the life of the opener’s motor over time (and put you at risk for not being able to open or close the door at all), the motor itself likely features outdated technology if it’s anywhere close to 10 years old. Old openers are easier to hack and potential thieves can intercept their frequencies. With a new opener, there are rotating signals that are more secure (as well as apps that let you know if the door is open or closed).

2. Ensure There Is Appropriate Lighting

Thieves love few things more than a dark or dimly lit access point. Make sure your garage door has plenty of lighting, so it’s not as tempting for criminals. This could mean new permanent exterior lighting, or a camera that has motion-activated lights. Either way, anyone messing with your garage door should be visible from the street.

3. Add a Security System

Make sure you have a camera pointing at your garage door, and that it’s identifiable to strangers. This will deter thieves, but it will also give you peace of mind if you’re able to check on your garage door at any given moment. Consider having a professional locksmith install a security system and look into adding an alarm to your garage door as well.

4. Educate Family Members

It’s important to educate family members—especially children—on the importance of garage door safety, and security. Don’t let kids ride on the door or repeatedly open and close it, and make sure they verify that the garage door is closed once they’re ready to come inside. Many accidents, and crimes are the result of negligence, but a little education is the best prevention.

If you’d like to improve the security of your garage door or any other area of your home, give the A-1 Locksmith team a call today for a consultation.