While packing and getting ready for your home move you need to think about where to put all those boxes and how to keep things safe. In a perfect world, theft, burglary and taking things that don’t belong to us would never happen. Sadly, however, stealing does happen, and people use tough economic times as an excuse to cross the line. More and more people are finding themselves victims of break ins. Especially at a vulnerable time such as during a move, it pays to be prepared and vigilant.
Prevention is your best defense. This article will focus on garage safety, since if you are moving your home you are likely to begin stacking boxes and valuables in your garage.
Did you know that there are videos on YouTube, which show how burglars can open an electric garage door in less than 10 seconds without breaking anything? There are inexpensive deterrent devices you can buy online to prevent this. Check out The Garage Shield for more information.
Think about it: if you were a thief, wouldn’t you rather simply walk away with a couple of packed boxes, rather than juggle a bunch of separate bulky items?
It is difficult, but up until the actual moving day, try to never let it look like you are moving. If your garage is attached to your home, keep the garage door closed. As you are packing move packed boxes into the garage for storage. If your garage is detached, it is not always practical to keep the door lowered as you move boxes back and forth. If possible, use the side door, or obscure the activity in your garage by parking cars in front of the garage.
As a general rule, keep your garage door lowered whenever possible, even when you are home. If you have a garage side door, be sure it has a deadbolt, and keep it locked when not in use. If there are decorative glass panes at the top of your garage door, or a window on the side of the garage, cover them with paper from inside.
You won’t be able to completely hide the fact that you are packing to move your home and storing items in your garage, especially from someone who is intent on looking, but your vigilant behavior will be a deterrent. Try to change your routine, install motion sensor lights over the garage, a barking dog is always a good deterrent. You can install inexpensive motion detectors which can be purchased at your local Lowes.
With a few simple precautions, your garage can be a safe storage area until moving day. If you are moving things to your new home ahead of time. Remember to secure that garage and house, no one is living there yet which makes it an easy target for someone to enter during the night and take everything you just moved over.