Police crime-prevention sheets name garage doors as a common weak point and advise a few simple steps: secure the emergency release with a zip tie, do not leave the remote in the car, keep the door into the house locked and never leave the garage door open while you work outside. Erase lost remotes from the opener.
1Why the garage gets attention
A city police crime-prevention sheet in St. Paul, Minnesota, says garage doors are common weak points for burglary and that many burglaries happen because doors are left open or unlocked. The fixes it lists are simple and most cost little: shut and lock the passage door, keep the remote out of the car, do not leave the overhead door open while you work in the yard, and add motion lighting by the garage.
Garage security also overlaps with garage safety. The same parts that keep a stranger out, such as the release handle and the remote, are the ones that keep your family safe when used right.
2The emergency release handle
Every residential opener has a manual release so the door can be detached from the opener when the power is out or someone is trapped. CPSC describes it as the quick release mechanism you pull to detach the door. That safety feature is also the one a thief may try to reach with a wire through the top of the door.
The same police sheet advises a zip tie on the emergency release so thieves cannot disable the lock. The tie should keep the handle from being pulled by a hook, and it must still give way when you pull firmly.
Everyone old enough should be able to use the release in an emergency. Do not lock it, tape it or tie it so it cannot be pulled by hand. Follow your opener's manual, and ask a technician if you are unsure how to protect it.
3Remotes and keypads
A remote left in a parked car is a key to the garage. Take it with you, or use a key-chain remote as the police sheet suggests. If a remote is lost or stolen, erase it from the opener's memory. LiftMaster support explains that you can erase all remotes and keypads by holding the LEARN button on the opener until the light goes out, and then you reprogram only the devices you still want. Program them again as the manual shows; see how to program a remote.
For a keypad, avoid a code that is easy to guess, such as an address or a birthday. Change the code when someone who knew it no longer needs it. A keypad that stops working is a separate problem: see keypad not working.
4The door into the house and the rest of the garage
- Keep the passage door from the garage into the house shut and locked, with a deadbolt
- Do not leave the overhead door open while you work in the yard
- Lock side gates with padlocks
- Light the garage door with motion-activated lighting
- Do not leave valuables or tools where they can be seen through windows
5A checklist by interval
| When | Do this |
|---|---|
| Every time you leave | Close the door, watch it close fully and lock the passage door |
| Every month | Check that the release handle is secured but pulls free, and that the remote is not in the car |
| After a lost remote or a move | Erase the opener's memory and reprogram only what you use |
| Every year | Change the keypad code and have a technician check the opener and door |
Based on a police crime-prevention sheet and opener manufacturer guidance.
6What you do and what a technician does
You
- Zip tie or cover the release, within the manual's guidance
- Keep remotes out of the car
- Erase and reprogram remotes and keypads
- Lock the passage door
A technician
- Checks that the release still works after you secure it
- Replaces a worn opener, receiver or lock
- Moves or replaces a wall control
- Tests the reverse and the sensors after the work
7Where we come in
Emil Garage Doors repairs and installs openers, remotes and access control across Southern California, and our city pages cover California, including Palo Alto, Marina and Clovis. Call (213) 340-4232 or send the estimate form. See remotes and parts and opener repair.
Questions people ask
How do I stop someone from opening my garage door with a wire through the top?
Police advise securing the emergency release with a zip tie so it cannot be hooked. The tie should still break when you pull the handle firmly.
What should I do if my garage door remote is stolen or lost?
Erase it from the opener's memory. LiftMaster support says to hold the LEARN button on the opener until the light goes out, then reprogram the remotes and keypads you still use.
Should I leave my garage remote in the car?
No. A police crime-prevention sheet advises against leaving the opener in the car and suggests a key-chain remote.
Is it safe to tie the emergency release?
Only if it can still be pulled by hand in an emergency. Follow the manual, and never lock or tape it.
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