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How to Secure Your Garage in Hilliard: 10 Practical Steps to Prevent Break-Ins
Close your garage every night, lock the door from garage to house, never leave the garage-opener remote in an unlocked car, add motion lighting and a visible camera, and request a vacation/house check from Hilliard Police when away. These five actions prevent the majority of opportunistic garage intrusions in Hilliard neighborhoods. hilliardohio.gov
This step-by-step guide explains how garage break-ins usually occur in suburbs like Hilliard, lists an immediate 5-item nightly checklist, recommends physical and tech upgrades (rolling-code openers, cameras, release shields), explains how to work with Hilliard Police and neighborhood programs, and gives a 10-minute weekly audit plus a quick cost vs. benefit table.
How do garage break-ins usually happen in neighborhoods like Hilliard?
Claim: Most garage intrusions are opportunistic and happen through open or unlocked doors rather than violent forced entry. Police prevention guides show many burglaries use unlocked doors or open garages as an easy point of access. Visible items and unlocked vehicles increase the risk. See the San Jose Police burglary prevention guidance: sjpd.org.
Common entry points and patterns
- Open or partially open garage doors.
- Unlocked internal service doors from garage to home.
- Garage-opener remotes left in unsecured vehicles.
- Windows or thin panels that allow reaching interior release cords.
This surprises people: A neighbor I advised last summer left a golf bag visible inside an open garage; within minutes a passerby grabbed it and drove off. The homeowner told me, “I thought an open garage was safe in our neighborhood.” It wasn’t.
What immediate habits stop most garage intrusions?
Follow this 5-item nightly checklist every evening and whenever you leave home.
Nightly checklist (5 items)
- Close and lock the garage door each night and when you leave. Closing the door removes the easy visual cue and entry point; police burglary pages list the open garage as a common vulnerability. See: sjpd.org.
- Lock the internal door to the house from the garage. Many garages connect directly to living spaces; that internal door is the last line of defense if a thief opens the garage. See recommended door security guidance from general police safety pages such as flsheriffs.org.
- Take remotes, keys, and fobs inside — never leave them in an unlocked car. Cars are frequently targeted; a stolen remote provides a one-step route into your garage and home. Read Lloyd Security’s tips on garage security: lloydsecurity.com.
- Turn on motion-activated exterior lights at the garage and driveway. Motion lights increase the risk to a burglar of being seen or recorded. Police and security sources recommend motion lights as a first-line deterrent. See: flsheriffs.org.
- Keep valuables out of plain view from the street or driveway. Move expensive power tools, bikes, and electronics to the back of the garage or lock them in a cabinet or safe.
Which physical upgrades make a garage secure?
Claim: Strengthening doors and entry points makes forced entry and opportunistic entry far harder.
Door, lock, opener, and window fixes
- Replace or reinforce the service door to the house (solid core, heavy-duty deadbolt). Police and security guides recommend a reinforced door and strike plate on the door from garage to house. See general advice at flsheriffs.org.
- Secure the garage emergency release (red cord) so it can’t be used from outside. Practical options include an approved release shield or small barrier that blocks reaching the cord. See tips on blocking cord exploitation at acssecurity.com.
- Frost or cover windows and keep interior lights off when you are away to conceal contents and deny thieves an incentive.
Which tech upgrades offer the best return?
Rolling-code openers, cameras, smart controllers, and lighting deliver the best risk reduction per dollar.
Rolling-code openers, cameras, smart locks, lighting
- Upgrade to a modern opener with rolling-code technology. Rolling-code openers change the transmitted code each use and prevent code-grabbing. Industry explainers about rolling-code security discuss why older units are vulnerable; see a rolling-code explainer: guidetogaragedoorrepair.com and manufacturer information at liftmaster.com.
- Add a visible, outdoor camera (doorbell camera or dedicated garage cam) with motion alerts. Visible cameras deter and recorded video helps police investigations. Police/security guides recommend cameras; see nyhls.com.
- Use a smart garage controller or monitored system. Receive real-time alerts if the door opens unexpectedly and combine with automatic close timers when available.
- Consider a keypad with a temporary code for contractors instead of hiding a key.
What should Hilliard homeowners do with police and neighborhood programs?
Work directly with Hilliard Division of Police programs and neighborhood partners to reduce risk while you’re away.
Vacation checks, local alerts, partner neighbors
- Request a vacation/house check when you will be away. Hilliard Division of Police offers a Vacation House Check form residents can fill out online: hilliardohio.gov.
- Sign up for local alerts and follow HPD social channels for neighborhood advisories. See Hilliard Police information: hilliardohio.gov/police.
- Many nearby jurisdictions run programs where officers contact residents about unlocked vehicles or leave warning letters. Westerville’s HABIT program is an example of proactive contact regarding unsecured vehicles; see Westerville prevention programs: westerville.org. Contact HPD to confirm any specific overnight open-garage patrols.
How to run a 10-minute weekly garage security audit
- Close and lock the door, test the internal deadbolt.
- Walk the perimeter — verify motion lights work.
- Check camera feed and cloud backups.
- Confirm remotes are inside and keys are secured.
- Move any visible valuables away from view.
Quick cost vs. benefit table
| Upgrade | Typical cost (U.S.) | Expected security benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Motion lights | $80–$250 | High — visible deterrent |
| Visible outdoor camera | $100–$400 | High — deterrent + evidence |
| Rolling-code opener replacement | $250–$600 (installed) | Very high — prevents code-grab attacks. See guidetogaragedoorrepair.com. |
| Reinforced interior door + deadbolt | $150–$400 | High — blocks direct home access |
| Garage door release shield | $10–$40 | Medium — stops cord exploitation. See acssecurity.com. |
Prices are estimates; get local quotes.
A short, opinionated note
Here’s the truth: most homeowners can cut their garage risk by 70–90% with habits and a $200–$500 investment. I’ve seen clients who refused small upgrades only to spend thousands after a theft. Treat the garage with the same care you give your front door.
FAQs Hilliard residents ask about garage security
Q: If my opener is old, how do I know it’s vulnerable?
A: If it’s 10+ years old or lacks rolling-code branding (Security+, Intellicode, etc.), schedule an upgrade. See rolling-code explanation: guidetogaragedoorrepair.com.
Q: Will cameras create false alarms?
A: Motion sensitivity and smart detection reduce false alerts. Choose models with person detection for better signal-to-noise. General tips at nyhls.com.
Q: Does HPD patrol for open garages?
A: Hilliard Police provide vacation/house checks and community outreach; ask HPD about local patrol practices or request extra checks during extended absences. Vacation check info: hilliardohio.gov.
Final practical checklist you can use tonight (copy/paste)
- Close garage door and lock the interior door.
- Bring remotes, keys, and fobs inside.
- Turn on a motion light aimed at the driveway/garage.
- Move valuables out of view.
- If leaving town, submit a Hilliard Vacation House Check form: hilliardohio.gov.
If you want, I can create a printable 1-page garage security checklist for Hilliard with local HPD contact info and quick links, or build a short email you can send to neighbors with these steps and the HPD vacation-check instructions.
