How to prevent break-ins through the garage

Police departments all over the country are reporting a rash of break-ins through the garage. According to the police, these thieves break into the garages and rob the contents of the vehicles parked inside.

Las Vegas garage door specialist, Damian Douglas, owner of Damian Douglas Garage Door says homeowners in Las Vegas, Summerlin, Henderson and other cities in Nevada can prevent garage robberies and protect their properties.

1. Do not leave garage door remote openers in the car.

“This is one of the simplest things homeowners can do to secure their garage doors and homes. You will be amazed by the number of people who leave their garage door remote openers attached to the windshield visor or on the seat of the car.” “It shocks me when I walk by someone’s car and find the garage door remote opener sitting right there in plain view. That is a no-no. It is just an invitation to the thieves. At the minimum, put it inside the glove compartment or another hidden area,” he said.

2. Lock vehicle doors even when parked in garage.

Douglas said homeowners should lock their vehicle doors even when it is in the garage. This prevents the thieves from having easy access to the valuables. “Just because your car is in the garage does not mean thieves cannot get to them especially if you have a habit of not locking your garage door,” he said.

3. Change garage door remote opener default code.

Homeowners should change the default code on their garage door openers. “Some homeowners leave the default code on their garage door openers without changing them. The problem is that they do not know who has access to the code. Most thieves know the default codes anyway. The first thing a homeowner should do is change the access code so only him or her and the family know the new code.”

4. Close garage door when not in use.

Homeowners need to close their garage doors and lock the connecting door between the garage and the home. “Many homeowners do not even bother to lock the connecting door. They should because anyone with access to the garage automatically gets access to the home if the door is unsecured. Failing to close the garage door when no one is in the garage is just inexcusable,” he added.

5. Notify the authorities if you observe suspicious activities.

Homeowners need to be alert to their surroundings and report anything out of the ordinary to law enforcement authorities. Looking out for your neighbors and those around you helps everyone stay safe and secure.