The garage is one of the most common entry points for home break-ins, and the holiday season — full of deliveries, travel, and gifts stored out of sight — is peak season. Here's how to secure yours.
Quick Wins
- Never leave the remote in your car. A smashed car window in a parking lot can hand a thief your garage — and your address is on the registration. Use a keychain remote instead.
- Lock the emergency release. Thieves can fish the red release cord through the top of the door with a coat hanger in seconds. A simple zip tie through the release mechanism (it still breaks away in a real emergency) or a release shield defeats this.
- Cover the windows. Frosted film lets light in while hiding your belongings and whether your car is home.
- Lock the interior door. The door from garage to house should be treated like a front door — deadbolt included.
Smart Upgrades
A smart opener alerts you the moment your door opens and lets you close it from anywhere — invaluable when traveling. Auto-close scheduling means the door is never accidentally left open overnight.
Heading Out of Town?
Use the opener's vacation/lock mode to disable remotes entirely.
Want a security-focused opener upgrade before the holidays? Straight Up Garage Doors serves the entire St. Louis metro — (314) 788-1106.