[mrdills]

Everyone with a garage door needs to take this simple precaution before the bad guys start using this now that this is out for the education of the general public. Phoenix Police Officer's name was removed.



Technology is so wonderful; how to break into a home in less than 6
Seconds with audio/visual aids!!

Please look at your garage door.

After our home inspection the inspector noted that our garage door had a
Dent in it. We were in the garage last night talking about it and
Trying to figure out how it got a dent in it. Finally figured out someone
Tried to break in. Then I searched youtube and found the below video.
Please watch it. I took the pull string off of ours and zip tied the
Lever up to the slider. Now you have to cut the zip tie in order to
Release the lever. Please pass on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=CMz1tXBVT1s

[getdul981]

Thanks for the info. I'll fix our door as soon as I can get to it. When you put the wire tie in there, does it make it a safety hazard? In the event of fire or something where you had to raise the door in a hurry, it might cause a problem.

[eremite06]

Just zip tied mine, also. Noticed the lever must be pulled stright down in order to release the lock. The lever is slanted away from the garrage door so it would be hard to hook it as shown in the video.

[Mudder]

Our garage door was opening when we were not at home.....some GPS devices will do. You need to reprogram your code every once in awhile. Thanks for the video.

[pooh]

Originally Posted by eremite06

Just zip tied mine, also. Noticed the lever must be pulled stright down in order to release the lock. The lever is slanted away from the garrage door so it would be hard to hook it as shown in the video.

Ours also slants away so it would have to be pushed instead of pulled. Did appreciate the video, and sent it along to friends who live out of state and actually have that particular type of garage door opener release.

[Rag Bagger]

If you wire the mechanical disconnect closed you can not disconnect the door from the motor in an emergency. That is why the pull cord is red it is an emergency disconnect. Sometimes the electronics fail and a door would come down on a person or property. If you do wire the disconnect closed, move the pull cord to the celling plug where the motor is plugged into the power. Then you can at least stop the motor from continuing to drive the door by pulling the plug. Then if you have to you can cut the tie and release the door from the drive.

There are so many ways to get in. It's impossible to secure everything. I think the biggest problem with powered garage doors are the scanners that a thief can use to activate the door openers.

I personally like devices that sense motion and activate an alarm and turn lights on. That usually is enough to ward off a thief. A thief will generally go to an easier target. The audible alarm can be relatively short lived, just enough time to let you, if your home, or your neighbors know that some one is trying to get in who shouldn't be there.

Another solution is to lock the garage door mechanism. Under the keypad on the wall is a switch that deactivates the operator. Only problem is no one, including you, can open the door with a remote when that switch is turned to off.

[otherbruddaDarrell]

Remember to lock the door coming in to the house from the garage!