Security Tips For Automated Garage Doors

SECURITY TIPS FOR AUTOMATED GARAGE DOORS

Prepared and Provided by Mega Access Controls, Inc.

Convenience vs Security

Millions of consumers value the convenience of their automated garage door, which they can open and close with the push of a button while remaining in their vehicle. To preserve convenience and avoid the problems associated with manually operated locks, many consumers sacrifice security by leaving their automated garage doors unlocked and vulnerable to invasion.

Commonly-Practiced Automated Garage Door Invasion Techniques:

Corner-Pulling when criminals pull out on one of the bottom corners of an older style swingout garage door enough to gain entry

Code-Grabbing – when criminals duplicate the signal codes transmitted by fixed code garage door opener (GDO) remote controls to automatically open the door

Release-Grabbing – when criminals disengage garage doors from the GDOs by hooking and pulling (from outside the garage) the GDO’s emergency release-lever, or cord attached to it, and manually open the door

Back-Driving – when criminals force the garage door towards the open position, to drive the GDO motor backwards and open the door

You Can Protect Against These Invasion Threats by Taking Three (3) Simple Steps:

Step 1: Use a Sectional Roll-Up Garage Door – If you still have an older style swingout garage door, replace it with a sectional roll-up garage door to protect against the threat of Corner-Pulling

Step 2: Only Use Rolling Code Remote Controls – If you are using fixed code remote controls, replace them with rolling code remote controls to protect against the risk of Code-Grabbing

Step 3: Add Gaplock The automated garage door lock that works with the automated opener to:

• Automatically lock your garage door every time it is closed, and unlock it before it is opened
• Protect against the threats of Release-Grabbing and Back-Driving
• Eliminate the need to use manually operated locks, which severely hamper automated garage door convenience and frequently result in costly damage to the door and/or opener (when the opener is activated while the door is still locked)

If you live in a home with an automated garage door, the questions posed below will help you identify key areas where you can improve security. Every question with a “no” check mark indicates a vulnerability that creates an invasion threat for your garage/home.

Yes	No
		Do you close and lock your garage door when you are not in the garage?
		Is there an interior door from your garage to your home? And if so, is it treated as an exterior door in terms of security (solid core, locking mechanism)?
		Have you upgraded your older style swingout garage door with a roll-up door to protect against Corner-Pulling?
		Is your GDO* operated by a rolling code remote control (provided with an upgraded GDO* or purchased separately) to protect against Code-Grabbing?
		Is the GDO* remote control in your car located out of sight?
		Do you have any type of locking mechanism on your garage door other than the GDO*?
		Do you have an automated locking device on your garage door that works with the GDO* to protect against Release-Grabbing and Back-Driving?
		Does your garage door’s automated locking device automatically lock when the door is closed and unlock when opened?
		Can your automated lock be connected to your home’s security system to detect when the garage door is unlocked?

*GDO – Garage Door Opener