Six seconds and a coat hanger is all it takes for a burglar to break into your garage door.

Your garage is a vulnerable point in your home, housing some of your most valuable possessions, including your vehicles. Combining car safety and home security will ensure your car stays safe from burglars.

Below are a few ways you can use car safety and home security to protect your vehicle.

Position Security Cameras Toward your Driveway and Garage

Burglars are less likely to target a home with visible security cameras, according to a UNC Charlotte Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology study. This deterrent alone can keep your vehicle safe by flagging your home as a tough target.

Intruders have a greater chance of being recognized if caught on camera, allowing your intruder to be one of the only 13.6 percent of burglars arrested. A live feed via mobile monitoring provides users with even more power, as they can identify a burglar before the burglar even leaves the premises.

Optimize Home Security with a Smart Garage

Integrating a smart garage into your home security system helps protect your car by closing your garage door when you forget. Leaving garage doors open, even if you are home, is a quiet opportunity for a burglar that puts your belongings and car at risk.

Smart garages allow you to close your garage door from a mobile device, or automatically shut the garage door if it was left open for an extended period of time.

Shine Light on Vulnerable Places

Image sensor technology paired with smart lights trigger light in dark places burglars are likely to target, like side doors or windows. Smart light technology will save energy by eliminating the need to leave side door lights on all night, or 24/7 to feel safe. To avoid false alarms, you can schedule lights to turn on and off at specific times you know you will be sleeping, out of town or at work.

Car Precautions

Using car safety on top of home security adds a second layer of defense to protect your vehicle. Practice car safety by taking these key precautions:

  • Lock your car doors and roll up your windows even when your vehicle is inside the garage. Thieves can use a coat hanger to open locks through a cracked open window.
  • If you park outdoors, always keep your doors locked, and park in a well-lit area.
  • Get in the habit of keeping valuables locked in your glove compartment or hidden away under a seat any time you leave your car. Even spare change should be tucked away.
  • Never leave your keys in the ignition. It is tempting to run inside and leave the car running, but always take the extra time to take your keys with you.