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Let the Police know before the thief knows that You know...
Installing a driveway sensor, designed to alert homeowners with long driveways that a vehicle is driving towards their house, can be a handy way to know when someone has entered your vehicle without alerting them, giving you time to call the police.
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A motion detector installed inconspicuously in your vehicle sends a signal to a receiver in your home when it detects motion. The receiver will then play a tone, alerting you of unwanted guests. This can help speed up the process of notifying the police and give them a better chance of apprehending the criminals.
Is Your Garage Secure or a Ready Access to Your Home?
Ensure your garage is not a gateway for uninvited "guests."
One method of gaining access through the garage door is to use a coat hanger or similar tool to grab the garage door release from the outside by slipping the tool between the top of the garage door and the door seal and seizing the string to disengage your garage door opener. The individual can then lift your garage door with ease. Not only do they now have access to your belongings stored in the garage but, potentially, your home.
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There are a couple of ways to defeat this method. Removing the ball, loop or toggle at the end of the string can make it difficult to grab the string and disengage the opener. Consider removing the string that is typically installed and configure a coat hangar or other tool to do the same job on the rare occasions that you need to disconnect the garage door opener. Store the tool in a logical location out of reach of those you intend on keeping outside.
Another overlooked security vulnerability is the garage door remote in your vehicle. Once a criminal gets into your automobile, they only have to activate the remote to gain access to your garage and, maybe, your home.
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Consider the use of a WiFi switch available at most home improvement stores and electronics retailers or on-line. These switches allow you to remove power to the garage door opener via a smart phone app anytime and anywhere you have WiFi access. Turn the switch off when you go on vacation and make it part of your nightly routine before going to bed. Many apps allow you to program a schedule that will turn the power on and off automatically.
Safety Note: Not having a string or other expediant method of disengaging the door opener may increase risk of injury or property damage in the event the door sensor safeties fail.
If you have tips that you would like to share we would love to hear from you!!
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