| Burglaries and break-ins are more common than you | | | | as strong as your weakest link, so keep these tips in |
| may think. According to FBI statistics, property crime, | | | | mind. |
| i.e. burglaries, make up a little over three-quarters of all | | | | Your home security, your garage security, should start |
| crime within the United States. In 2005 burglary | | | | with your garage door opener. Electric garage doors |
| accounted for 21.2 percent of the estimated number | | | | are difficult to force open as they usually come |
| of property crimes committed that year. Most | | | | equipped with protective measures such as an electric |
| residential burglaries occur during the day between 6 | | | | combination. However, if you don't change the garage |
| am and 6 pm, when families and homeowners are | | | | combination from that of the manufacturer's setting, it |
| away at work or school. A burglary takes place about | | | | is very easy for a thief to gain access. |
| every 15 or so seconds. These statistics don't look | | | | Your garage door, as with anything else, suffers from |
| pretty and they certainly are not reassuring. However, | | | | wear and tear over time. Components may |
| you can take control of your home security by | | | | malfunction; panels become loose; parts become |
| implementing a few practical measures. Here we | | | | unhinged. You should check your garage door |
| discuss the garage. | | | | periodically. Inspect it for any weak points. Make sure |
| Many people take the security of their garages for | | | | that it is secure and that thieves can't easily pry the |
| granted. The fact of the matter is however, that your | | | | door open. Look for any structural damage that would |
| home security should encompass all of your house. | | | | make the door easy to break. |
| The garage is actually a favorite target for thieves. | | | | Many people frequently leave their garage doors open. |
| Garages, not only offer up a lot of goodies, such as | | | | This is definitely a major home security risk. By doing |
| cars, bikes, tools and more, there are also usually easy | | | | this, you are effectively advertising all your goods. A |
| to get into. They also offer an ideal break-in point as | | | | thief can easily slip in and take whatever he or she |
| thieves can remain out of plain sight, hiding behind | | | | pleases within a matter of minutes. Leaving your |
| boxes or cars. As many people can attest, their | | | | garage door open spotlights your house, basically, |
| garages aren't the most orderly places in their homes. | | | | producing unwanted attention. Remember to always |
| They are usually filled with clutter and junk, which | | | | close your garage door. If you tend to forget to do this, |
| make it even easier for your thief to gain access | | | | you may want to consider an automatic garage door |
| unnoticed. Most home owners don't have durable locks | | | | closer which closes your door whether you remember |
| on their garage doors, or they simply forget to lock the | | | | to hit the button or not. |
| doors. Also, the garage isn't usually occupied, especially | | | | Homes with home security systems are less likely to |
| at night. Keeping your garage secured is an extremely | | | | be targeted than those without. You can even install a |
| important part of any home security routine. Once a | | | | home alarm for your garage. You can extend your |
| thief gets inside your garage, they have easy access | | | | home alarm with sensors which can be placed on or |
| to the rest of your home. Your home security is only | | | | around you garage door. |