--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saw this on YouTube. A good prevention would be to use tie wraps and tie the release shut. This way you would have to cut them loose to release the lever in the event of a power failure and you needed to open it manually. Another good idea is to always lock the door coming into your house from the garage. Of course they can take everything in your garage though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=CMz1tXBVT1s