Question:
We've recently had a rash of garage break-ins in our area -- mine twice within
a month and another attempted last night. In an isolated incidence, one guy
was fortunately caught yesterday and is also facing attemped murder charges
after dragging a homeowner down the street in his car when he was suprised by
the home owner.
Any suggestions on alarms for garages? It's unheated, is detached and does
have a power supply.
Answer:
I used to unplug the door opener when we would be away more than a few days.
My new door opener has a switch on the console next to the inside door to
disable the wireless receiver so I don't have to climb a ladder and mess
with the plug.
I also bug the garage door with a Sentrol 2202AU magnetic contact. There's
a concealed Sentrol 1275 magnetic sensor on the window and each of the two
personnel doors to my garage. I placed a Visonic FG-1525 glass break on the
ceiling near the window to detect glass breakage. I don't like to install
motion detectors in garages but I've found glass breaks work well. I always
program garage glass breaks for "entry/exit follower" so the noise of the
door doesn't trip them during normal use by the homeowner.
For extended vacations such as my month in Rio a year and a half ago I place
a heavy padlock through the hole in the end of the garage door lock so it
can't be retracted. I found one with a case-hardened body that almost
completely surrounds the bolt so it's extremely difficult to cut the bolt.
I find these measures plus using a concealed magnetic contact on the inside
door to the house and one on the trap door to the attic to be sufficient for
my needs. I don't live in a high crime neighborhood.
