How To Protect Your Home Against The 6 Second Break In

June 20, 2014

Do you always lock all of your windows and doors before you leave for work in the morning? Well what if I told you that wasn’t enough. There has been an increase in the number of break-ins across the country, and they aren’t happening through your regular doors and windows. It’s a rarely known fact that your garage door is one of the easiest points of entry into your home. People rarely take the necessary precautions before leaving for work or a vacation. Six seconds- that is all it takes for a thief to gain access to your home, and all of your valuable possessions using only a wire hangar. Here’s how they do it:

• The robber uses a wire hangar or other similar device to loop the release cord or release handle of your garage door.
• They take note of whether you have an alarm system. If you do and it trips, they hide inside and close the door.
• Security comes to check out the scene and find that everything is in place while the thief is hiding in the garage.
• His accomplice sits in a car up the street and contacts the robber when security has left and the coast is clear.
• They then steal whatever they want and leave with no trouble.

Even if you think you have done what you need to protect your home by installing an alarm system, the robbers are one step ahead of you. Here are the steps to take to protect your home from the six-second garage door break in:

• Take a piece of cable wire and loop it through the top and bottom holes of the release mechanism. This will disable it.
• Or, disable it by securing a zip tie around the entire mechanism.
• Remove the release cord entirely.

Keep in mind that garage doors with windows are targeted the most due to the fact that thieves can see your release mechanism. However, if you don’t have windows, you are still at risk because robbers can simply count the bolts on the door. Central Insurance Agency is available to help you with all of your Austin, Texas homeowner’s insurance needs. Contact us today and speak with one of our highly skilled representatives about how you can better protect your home. A break-in can be one of the most discouraging events, and being prepared is the only way to prevent one.