Indiana Car Burglaries Highlight Importance of Garage Door Security, Police Say

You might not think about garage doors all the often. Maybe if it sticks when you’re on your way to work, you might think about how you need to fix it. But then you usually forget. However, a working garage door is essential to keeping your belongings secure from both theft and the elements. Affordable modern garage doors are easy to find, so you don’t need to invest your entire maintenance budget into getting them installed. But all types of garage doors are worth considering if you’re looking into replacements. An automatic overhead door is very convenient for anybody who keeps their car in the garage. This keeps them from having to get out of the car and close the garage door behind them on their way out. But there are practical options available at any price point. So look at what your garage needs and how much you can afford to spend. Then bring in a garage door technician to put the new door on. It’s a relatively quick process that will allow you the peace of mind of knowing your belongings are safe.

Many break-ins that occur at home happen through the garage door. If you do not want to be a victim of such break-ins, it is important to hire the services of garage door contractors to ensure they install the best garage doors for you. There are plenty of garage doors in the market that you can choose from. For instance, you can choose a flat panel garage door with windows. Such a garage door will provide you with the security you need in your home and will also look stylish. It is one of the best doors to use if your garage is visible to passersby. Garage door construction requires the help of an expert.

Some people can look up tutorials on the internet and think they can install the garage doors by themselves. Doing so increases the chances of burglars breaking into your garage. You need to get a garage door corporation that will send experts to install your garage door. Once they are done with the installation, your garage door interior panels will have the most amazing fit. The safety of you and your family is something you should not take for granted. Hire experts to improve your security through the garage door.

During winter, it’s common for drivers to leave their cars unlocked and running in the garage to warm up in the morning. But police in Fishers, IN, have warned residents that this isn’t as safe as they might think. Three burglaries of unlocked cars left in garages occurred only a few miles apart on one morning earlier this month.

“Criminals look for victims that are distracted, and the cold is a distraction. People are hurrying. They’re not thinking,” Fishers Police Sgt. Tom Weger told the local Fox affiliate.

In two of the cases, the suspect simply rolled under a cracked garage door to gain access, stealing items — including a GPS device — from vehicles.

Neighbors in the affected area commented that they all assumed that a mostly closed garage door would provide adequate protection. But not only do partially open doors leave garages and homes vulnerable, some older garages without automatic openers are left unlocked much of the time.

Police can’t be sure that all three thefts are connected. But regardless, officials say, it’s important that drivers keep their cars locked, be aware of garage door security and not give in to a false sense of protection.

The Value of Replacing Garage Doors
Homeowners wanting to replace their garage doors due to security concerns have some financial incentives as well. According to the magazine Remodeling, replacing a garage door can significantly increase the value of a home.

The magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value survey, conducted in conjunction with the National Association of Realtors, found that replacing a mid-range door with an upscale one yielded an 82.5% return on investment, making it the second-best investment in the upscale remodeling category. In the mid-range category, the figures were even better: an 88.4% return for replacing a basic garage door with a mid-level one.

The upfront cost of such a project is also far lower than other home improvement projects undertaken to increase property value. The average cost to replace a mid-range garage door is $1,595, contrasting sharply with projects like a kitchen remodel ($56,758, on average) or the addition of a family room ($84,201).

“Being aware of your surroundings in and out of your garage, can prove to be key in preventing theft and damaged property,” says Phil Cabral, President of Sunwest Garage Door Inc. “An upgraded garage door, such as an insulated door, can help to prevent the extreme temperatures in the garage associated with the winter months. Garage door manufacturers have a variety of insulated door options that incorporate polyurethane insulation, which provides a greater R-value to that of the polystyrene insulated doors of the past.”