The "Six Second Break in", and how you can protect yourself.

There are currently some "You Tube" videos circulating which show how to break into a garage using a coat hanger. While showing everyone how to do this is a questionable idea, the fact that it is true, makes us think about what we can do to stop the problem. KEYE TV in Austin did a report on the problem and offered one solution. That video can be seen here.

Note: If you are wondering why even have a release mechanism on your garage door the answer is that you have to. All manufacturers have to have one to allow emergency exit from the garage in the event of fire and escape from the home. If the opener did not have this, then when the opener was not working the garage door would not be able to be opened and the customer might be trapped in the garage. Therefore all garage openers must have an emergency release rope.

Keye TV News Report. Click here to see the video.

In the interest of solutions to the problem, we have included a couple of ideas. Many of these and others are available on the web and You Tube. Here are a couple that we found and would like to share.

Secure Shield
This looks like an elegant solution to the problem from a company called First Watch Security. If you do go this route and need help installing it, give us a call. We will put it on your opener and tune up your door for $39.00. Click Here to see their web site. or paste this link in your browser http://www.firstwatchsecurity.com/secureshield

Tie Wrap / Zip Tie

You may also want to try one of the following self help solutions which we have included here. This involves two steps. The first is to make the rope impossible to be pulled outside the top of the door. The second step is to make the release lever difficult to be move by a hanger or flexible piece of wire.

The Rope solution. Many Possibilities here:
1. Shorten the rope so that it does not reach the top front of the garage door making it impossible to be pulled from the outside.
2. Remove the rope. This will make it hard to exit the garage in the event of emergency without a chair or ladder to release the lever.
3. Wrap the rope around the J"Arm so that it cannot be pulled out side the door.

The release solution. Because there are so many different types of openers out there we will show the opener and the suggested placement of the tie wrap to prevent access to the garage.

LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Craftsman Brand openers

Belt Drive

Screw Drive

Chain Drive

Put a tie wrap through the hole in the lever along with the rope and then through the hole at the top of the trolley through the hole with the spring.

Overhead and Genie Brand operators

Chain Drive.

Screw Drive

Belt Drive

Marantec. Brand Operators