Securing Your Garage Against Break-Ins: What Actually Works

The garage door is often the largest door in the house — and sometimes the least protected. Good news: recent equipment has made huge progress. Here is what actually works.

The automatic lock

Some wall-mount openers, like the LiftMaster 98032, come with an automatic garage door lock: a motorized deadbolt physically locks the door on every close. Impossible to force it upward, even knowing burglars’ tricks.

Alerts on your phone

With myQ connectivity on LiftMaster openers, you get a notification every time the door opens or closes — and you can close it remotely if it was left open. Recent models like the 6580L and 6690L even include an integrated video camera: you see what is happening in the garage live, with night vision on the 6690L.

Good habits that cost nothing

• Never leave the remote visible in a car parked outside;
• Lock the connecting door between the garage and the house — that is the real barrier;
• On vacation, cut power to the opener or use the wall panel’s vacation/lock mode;
• Replace old fixed-code remotes: rolling-code systems (Security+) transmit a different code every time.

On the commercial side: tailgating

In building parking garages, the classic intrusion is tailgating — slipping in behind a vehicle before the door closes. The most effective countermeasure: a high-speed door, which drastically reduces the window of opportunity.

Have your setup assessed

In one visit, we check the door, locking and opener, and suggest the upgrades that are actually useful — without selling you what you do not need. Talk to us.