Criminals roam neighborhoods day and night, scouring properties for easy access to garages, especially those attached to houses. Once inside an unsecured garage, burglars can break through the entrance to the house and commit robbery without fear of being seen by law enforcement or neighbors.
While back doors and back or side windows are thieves’ most common residential entry points, home security experts consistently warn about neglecting garage security. Seasoned burglars can spot slightly damaged or improperly sealed garage doors and plan their crime within minutes. They’ve got the tools, the know-how, and the motivation to break in, burglarize, and flee the area without detection.
In 2023, the average value of items and/or cash stolen from U.S. residences during day and nighttime burglaries was nearly $5000. Don’t be one of the millions of victims leaving your garage vulnerable to career criminals. Learn about how you can reinforce your garage with these practical security tips.
Install Motion and Light Activated Security Cameras
Motion sensors in security cameras immediately begin recording whenever they detect movement. Integrated motion-sensor lights illuminate the area upon detecting movement, frightening criminals when they realize their actions are being videotaped. Modern security camera systems also offer remote viewing options via smartphone apps, allowing you to monitor your garage in real-time from anywhere with Internet access.
Reinforce Garage Doors
Horizontal or vertical metal braces installed inside your garage door for added strength and support are called garage reinforcers. They help prevent larger garage doors from bowing or sagging by evenly distributing weight around the entire door. In addition, these sturdy metal devices increase the strength of garage doors and, more importantly, the time it takes for thieves to break into your garage. You can also get garage door reinforcement struts designed to support the weight of an open garage door.
Upgrade Garage Door Openers
Rolling code technology boosts the security of garage door openers by using constantly changing codes for each signal. Unlike older systems with a single, static code, a new code is created each time you press the remote. This unique code is transmitted to the receiver unit attached to your garage door. Following its own internal rules, the receiver anticipates a specific code. If the code received matches the expected code, the door opens. This system makes it difficult, if not impossible, for criminals to eavesdrop on the signal and replicate the code.
Only Leave the Garage Door Open When Necessary

Professional burglars often walk or drive around neighborhoods, observing residents’ daily routines and identifying their behavior patterns. Many people open their garage doors and do not close them out of convenience or because not all family members have remote openers. Unfortunately, when thieves identify patterns of open garage doors at specific times, such as during commuting hours, they instinctively take advantage of that pattern–and make their move.
Open garage doors also allow burglars to see what valuables are stored in your garage, where they are located, and if they might need a cohort to help steal larger items.
Fortify the Door Between the House and the Garage
If a robber makes their way into an attached garage, you can almost bet they will try to break through the door separating the house from the garage. Stop thieves from further burglarizing your property by replacing the existing door with reinforced (solid-core) steel or solid wood doors. These doors offer more resistance to forced entry than hollow-core doors commonly found in garages. Install heavy-duty hinges designed to resist being pried off. Upgrade existing locks with deadbolt locks featuring security-grade strike plates or use deadbolts with multiple locking points for maximum security.
Security Window Film
Protecting garage door windows with security film adds a layer of protection against break-ins. This specialized film increases the glass’s resistance to shattering and holds it together even if it cracks. Security window film complicates a burglar’s ability to rapidly gain entry to your garage by forcing them to take longer to remove garage windows. Moreover, some security films offer energy-efficiency properties that reduce heat loss or gain in garages.
Other Ways to Secure Your Garage Without Spending Money
Displaying security signs around your property that say “Surveillance Camera on Property” or “This Property Protected by Surveillance Cameras” are powerful deterrents to potential intruders and may make them think twice before burglarizing your residence. Neglected landscaping components inadvertently help burglars break into garages. For example, overgrown bushes and trees offer hiding spots for burglars to conceal their activities. Keeping your landscaping neatly trimmed enhances visibility around your garage, making it less attractive to would-be criminals.
Leaving ladders, tools, and other items outside your garage provides opportunistic burglars with a quick and easy approach to breaking and entering. Always store these items securely when not in use to avoid giving questionable individuals any ideas. Finally, don’t announce extended absences or travel plans on social media where the public can read these announcements. You could be sending an invitation to a criminal to burglarize your residence.
You might also be interested in: Securing Windows and Doors Against Break-Ins – Safeguard Your Castle