It is common knowledge that the most vulnerable entry point of a typical suburban home is the front door. That’s why burglars prefer front doors when they stop by. First-floor windows are a good second choice. Yet there is an underrated entry point some burglars target first: the garage.
A garage can represent a lucrative entry point to a residential property. The garage space itself can store thousands of dollars in power tools, sporting equipment, lawn equipment, bicycles, and so much more. It is a veritable cornucopia to a thief who may decide not to enter the actual home at all.
A thief who decides to get into the main part of the home rarely has as difficult a time with the door that leads inside. In most houses, it will not be a steel or solid-core wood security door.
Why Burglars Might Target the Garage First
Crime statistics routinely show that the front door is the most-used entry point by burglars. However, statistics could be skewed by the fact that not all homes have attached garages. The reality is that burglars are actually fond of garage entry, which is why Vivint Home Security offers a smart garage door device that makes managing access control a lot easier.
Here are three reasons a burglar might target the garage first:
1. 60 Seconds and a Coat Hanger
Even when a garage door is closed, a burglar might be able to breach it with a coat hanger. Standard garage door openers are equipped with safety releases. A smart burglar who knows how to use a coat hanger can engage a safety release in under a minute.
2. High-Value Items
Because we Americans tend to use our garages as storage spaces, burglars find all sorts of high-value items sitting in plain view. Power and lawn tools are easily sold on the street. Sporting goods, bicycles, and small electronics can be easily pawned.
3. Unlocked Interior Access Doors
As previously mentioned, interior access doors don’t tend to be the heavy-duty security doors homeowners install at the main entrance. Moreover, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to forget to lock interior access doors. So if a burglar can get into the garage, it’s generally not hard to get into the main home either.
The Garage Should Be Part of a Secure Perimeter
As a homeowner, the last thing you need is for your garage to be a security liability. It doesn’t have to be. Make it part of your secure perimeter – just like your front and back doors, your first-floor windows, etc.
Vivint recommends getting started with a smart garage controller with remote access. It’s a device that lets you open and close the garage door from anywhere. You just need a smartphone and internet access. A smart garage controller can tell you when the door has been opened or closed, alerting you to possible intrusion when you are away from home.
You can get more from a smart garage door controller by integrating it with the rest of your security system. For example, you could create a routine that automatically closes the garage door when you arm your security system. That way, the door will be closed even if you forget to do it before leaving home.
You can do so much more by tying a smart garage door controller to floodlighting, the GPS on your phone, and even motion sensors. The point is to protect your garage as well as you protect the rest of your home. Do not invite burglars to use it as an entry point for their crimes.
