It’s comforting to hear that there were nearly 40,000 fewer household burglaries in England and Wales last year compared to the year before.
That doesn’t mean any of us can get complacent, though. Because, as unlikely as it may be that your home will be burgled, you can inadvertently make your little kingdom far more tempting for opportunist thieves.
For instance, garages are often sought after as entry points for burglars, and without leaning on the tips below, yours might be less secure than you think.
1. Install security lights
Security starts with visual deterrents, and few are as visceral or direct as lighting.
It’s one of the oldest methods for home security, but one which is still totally relevant and effective today. It’s also pretty inexpensive.
2. Add cameras
Continuing the visual deterrent theme, cameras (whether functional or fake) are a great way to deter thieves.
Think about it; if you were an opportunistic burglar, would you go for the house which clearly has a camera or the one with zero cameras visible?
You can even get cameras these days which connect to your smartphone and record securely to the cloud for round-the-clock security, no matter where you happen to be.
3. Look for the right labels
If you’re buying a new garage door, make sure it includes one of the following labels:
Secure by Design
Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB)
Both indicate that the product has been built to the highest security standard and provide you with ultimate peace of mind as a homeowner.
4. Tick the multiple-point locking box
There are lots of options you can choose from when buying a new garage door, but there’s one in particular which will raise your security game considerably.
Multiple-point locking on main garage doors and side doors (more on that in a moment) makes them much, much harder to break into. But remember to ask what other optional extras are available for security purposes, and if your budget can stretch – stretch it!
5. Take into account side access
It’s easy to forget the importance of side access to your garage when it comes to security.
These doors are often viewed as more of a tempting entry point for burglars, simply because they’re usually more accessible and hidden from view.
This is why it’s vital you invest wisely in a great personnel door for your garage – don’t skimp on this important security element.
6. Don’t give them an easy route
Burglars will always look for the path of least resistance when it comes to garages, and you may have unwittingly provided the ideal route for them.
These people will take advantage of anything if it helps them make their way into your garage. That includes your garden; if your landscaping presents foliage, trees, or plants nearby the garage entrance, that could be used as cover by burglars.
If that’s the case, trim it all back and ensure there’s plenty of clear space around the garage entrance.
7. Hide your stuff
This one is easy. If you can see into your garage from outside, make sure your valuables are hidden from sight.
In fact, it makes sense to do this regardless of how visible they are from outside, because if someone does get in, they’ll have to spend longer finding what they want, and there’s more chance of them giving up.
8. Invest in the best garage door you can afford
It really does pay to invest as much as you can afford in your garage door. It’ll pay back in ultimate peace of mind, aesthetics, and long-lasting durability.
From roller doors to traditional up-and-overs, modern garage doors are built with security in mind, but it’s easy to buy cheap, and that never works out well in the long run.
Need help choosing a super secure garage for your home or business? Just get in touch with the Horizons team – we’d love to help.