How to Mitigate Garage Door Break-ins
Issue #42
Many of us have experienced or know of someone who has experienced a garage door break-in.
Forgetting to close the garage door
Sometimes, it's as simple as leaving the garage door open too long or leaving a car parked outside with access to your garage door opener.
Here is a story from a family member:
"My husband had planned to go backroad driving with some friends. We were just starting to leave our community when I noticed the red alternator icon on our Jeep's dashboard. We brought the Jeep back home and took our Honda Accord instead. We drove 90 miles away to our destination and spent the day wandering around southern Arizona. When we got home we noticed that our garage door was wide open and we hadn't hit the garage door opener yet. At first we thought someone had broken in through the garage door but when we walked through the house we saw that nothing was taken nor disturbed.
We realized that because we had a sudden change in plans-leaving the Jeep at home and taking the Honda-it disrupted our thought process and we forgot to close the door. We were in a hurry. This happened to us two more times-we left the house and weren't sure we had closed the door-and we had to call our next door neighbor to check. One of those times we had left the door open. "
Although this is the most straightforward approach, the door has to be raised quite a bit for the tilt sensor to detect it.
My son came up with an idea that detects the door raised just a few inches that is too small for anyone to side under! This uses a YoLink door contact sensor mounted on a hinge that causes the door sensor to detect it as an open door.
Here is a version I found on Etsy.com
Forced break-in
Sometimes, it's a forced break-in, using the emergency garage door release from outside the garage with a long hook. There have been several news stories and YouTube videos on his problem.
Hacking
Someone has "cloned" your existing garage remote when you last used it. There have been a few news stories on this, as well as "hacker" articles.
The Solution(s)
I will be exploring four solutions to this problem. You may want to read through them and decide which best meets your needs.
Here is a video showing the solutions:
First, let's look at a way to remind you that you left the door open using a simple stick-on "YoLink Smart Garage Door Sensor". This can even remind you when using a phone app after you've driven away. You could even give one to a neighbor if they want you to look after their garage door when they go on vacation. Their sensor can be wirelessly connected to your YoLink hub if they live within ¼ mile.
Garage door tilt sensor
Here is a comment from a family member after installing this YoLink garage door open sensor:
"This garage door sensor has been a God send because although we now sit in the driveway to make sure the garage door is closed before leaving our neighborhood all I have to do to reassure myself it's closed is check my phone because I get a notification every time the door opens or closes. "
Second, let's look into the ways to prevent someone from manually utilizing your garage door release mechanism.
· There are commercial "shields" available, or you could create a DIY shield
Door shield
· Garage door Locks (deadbolt- similar to your front door)
o Manual Lock: You could train yourself to open a manual "deadbolt" on the garage door every time you want to open the door and remember to re-engage it every time you close the door. This approach requires a good memory or many warning signs… even in the car if you manually engage the deadbolt when leaving the house.
Unlock the garage deadbolt BEFORE pushing the garage door opener button
· Automatic garage door lock:
o You could install a new garage door opener that supports automated deadbolts.
OR
o Install a 'SureLock Automatic Garage Door DeadBolt/Lock" automatic lock system that works with ANY garage door opener, even those with battery-backed power. It works by simultaneously detecting current draw and vibration. Vibration alone will not trigger it.
(I Installed this one at my current home. Installation takes about 90 minutes)
Automatic garage door lock with sensors
Installation video
Third, if you are concerned about your garage door being opened via an electronic means (key fob cloning) or using your car's garage door remote if you left it parked outside overnight, you could use a YoLink Smart Plug (hub required) to turn off power to the garage door opener on a timed basis- e.g., 9 PM- 6 AM
Smart plug used to control power
Remember that if you are using a YoLink smart plug on a schedule for the control of your garage door opener power, and you are arriving home during that power shutoff schedule, you will either need to use the YoLink app to turn off the YoLink smart plug or a YoLink wireless controller to do so.
Fourth, if you want to remotely open your garage door for a friend or a delivery, you could install this MyQ Smart Garage Door Control. I installed this one at my previous home. It was great to have a way to receive a warning that the garage door I thought would completely close as I drove away was still open! The app provided me with a remote means to close it.
Summary
If you only want to be notified that the garage door has been opened (or left open), solution #1 is the easiest to implement. Just order the Yolink garage door sensor and YoLink Hub. Install the YoLink app on your phone, and you will see step-by-step instructions on connecting the YoLink Hub and YoLink sensor.
If you are looking for a way to prevent garage door opening mechanically, look at solution #2.
If you are concerned about someone hacking your garage door opener, solution #3 can ensure that no power is applied to your garage door opener except on a schedule.
Lastly, if you want a way to close a forgotten garage door remotely, you might want to consider solution # 4
The items needed for this solution can be found in the YouTube video description
· YoLink Smart Garage Door Sensor https://amzn.to/47OsbJ0 (Includes hub)
o Optional- Yolink wireless remote https://amzn.to/3RyP4KN
· Door Shield https://amzn.to/3Nj5AMh
· SureLock Automatic Garage Door DeadBolt/Lock https://amzn.to/4afQcui
· YoLink Smart Plug https://amzn.to/489SQjb
· MyQ Smart Garage Door Control https://amzn.to/47REPXQ
· Etsy door sensor https://bunniccio.etsy.com/listing/1731072348