Amarillo Break-Ins: How Your Garage Door Can Keep You Safe

by Tony Hall - More by Tony Hall

As you may have heard, there have been instances of home burglaries and attempted break-ins in the Amarillo, Texas area as of late. 

One such instance took place in the neighborhood of City View. The homeowners left their garage door open for their children, who were outdoors playing.  While eating dinner, the husband stepped into his garage to discover two young men breaking into the cars. The husband tried to stop one of the alleged burglars, and the other burglar pulled a gun on him. The couple’s son approached and the burglar turned the gun on him. This happened in broad daylight. 

Just two days later, there was a break-in on the 6000 block of Chisholm Circle in Amarillo. This alleged crime also took place in broad daylight. 

How Can My Garage Door Protect My Family And Home?

Your home is your castle. A strong, efficient garage door provides another layer of protection for your home, possessions, your family and pets. You would think we could leave our garage doors open during the day, but with recent events, it seems we cannot. 

No matter what time of day it is, please try to keep your garage door closed. An open garage door provides burglars with easy access to the contents of your garage, such as your cars, and your home, especially if the door to your home is unlocked. Burglars could break into your cars, steal your garage door opener and then come back to your home later on.

When you are not home, always keep your garage door shut. If you need to leave it open for someone, such as a repair-person or a house-sitter, opt for a garage door app, such as the MyQ app for LiftMaster. This app allows you to open and close your garage door from your phone or smart device, no matter where you are. 

Whether you are at work or across the country on vacation, you can control your garage door and keep track of when it was opened and closed. LiftMaster also offers a Security+ line, which transmits a new security code each time you use your garage door remote. Referred to as rolling-code technology, this type of technology reduces the likelihood of a potential thief from using a code grabber device to open your garage door.

If you are home, it’s advisable to keep your garage door shut, too. Keep your doors locked. If you or are your children are outside, use a key to get back in.

What Else Can I Do To Protect My Home From Burglaries?

Did you know that the average dollar loss from a break-in is around $2,000? There are at least 2,000 burglaries every year in Amarillo, according to Amarillo Crime Stoppers and city data. There has been a decrease in recent years, but that does not mean you should be lax in your efforts. Please do the following to help protect your family and home, and prevent burglaries:

1. Don’t leave your garage door remote or opener in your vehicle. Look into purchasing a keychain remote opener rather than one that clips to the visor of your car.
   
2. Make sure your garage door is sturdy, strong and in working order. A weak or damaged garage door makes it easier for criminals to break into your home. Wooden or steel garage doors are best. For added protection, you can even have a deadbolt lock installed.
   
3. Do not leave your garage door open. We have to reiterate this, as an open garage door is just an open invitation for people to steal something from you. When you leave your home, stick around until you see your garage door close all the way. 
   
4. Don't forget about windows or pet flaps. If you have garage door windows, frost them, tint them or get mirrored garage door windows so people can’t see into your garage. If your car is gone, a burglar could easily find out and take advantage of you not being home. Pet doors can be risky because someone could squeeze through the opening. Look into getting a pet door that restricts access by using a pet's microchip or programmed collar for entry and exit. 
   
5. Maintain your garage door. Do a maintenance check on your garage door springs, hinges, tracks and any mechanical parts. A garage door professional can also do this for you.
   

If you want to make sure your garage door is safe, secure and in working order, contact Amarillo garage door company Willow Creek Overhead Door. Owner Tony Hall will come to your home and make sure your garage door is working as it should. He also provide repairs and replacements for garage door and parts. 

Remember, a working, secure, well-maintained garage door is one of the best ways to protect your home and family from burglary. A garage door is one of the most common things people overlook when it comes to home security. Make sure yours is doing its job by contacting Willow Creek Overhead Door today. 

Willow Creek Overhead Door owner Tony Hall discusses Garage Door and Home Security Measures with NewsChannel 10 in Amarillo.

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KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, Weather, Sports

photo courtesy of Stuart Miles / Free Digital Photos