How to secure your garage doors

May 28 2025

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Even though garages are often full of valuable items like tools, cars and bikes, they’re not always high up on the list of priorities when thinking about home security. It’s important to know how to secure your garage to protect any contents and prevent it from being an entry point to the rest of your home (especially if you have an internal door). 

If you’re looking to efficiently protect your home, you’re in the right place. Our experts have created this guide to help you enhance your garage’s security and give you some peace of mind. Explore our solutions at ADT, including CCTV and outdoor cameras that are ideal for casting a protective eye over your garage. 

Up-and-over garage doors 

Before you up the security on your garage doors, make sure you understand the kind of door you’re working with; this will help to make sure you have the right kind of protection. 

If you have a standard up-and-over garage door, these can be quite easy to penetrate. A thief can kick the door hard and create a dent, making it easy to prise the door open and enter. 

Roller and shutter  

Roller and shutter garage doors have a similar look to traditional up-and-over doors, but they work by opening vertically and roll over themselves into an overhead box. They often feature an improved level of insulation and can be harder to prise open. 

Improved security doesn’t mean they’re completely secure, however:

• If there’s a gap between the door and the floor, a car jack can be rolled under and cranked. The door will open enough for them to gain access by sliding under 
• There’s also the risk of electric rollers being manually overridden from the outside, so keep the mechanism well-hidden were possible

Personnel garage side door:  

A personnel garage side door is a singular pedestrian door that’s usually located at the side or back of the garage. When they’re installed properly, these doors can be quite secure because their design features minimal leverage points. 

You can, however, force access to these doors by kicking with enough force or pushing it with a variety of tools, especially if your garage door is made of wood or uPVC. These doors are also particularly vulnerable if they use a euro cylinder lock, which can be ‘snapped’ or melted out. You can learn how to protect your home from this in our expert ‘dangers of lock snapping’ guide. 

Ways to secure your garage doors 

Locks 

Adding a lock to your garage door can reduce the chances of an opportunistic thief breaking in, as it becomes too risky for them to attempt entry. Installing padlocks lower to the ground can also restrict how much ‘give’ the door will have. 

Garage defender 

These are ground-anchored devices that restrict the outward movement of the garage door, even if the locks are compromised. They add an extra layer of security to get past. 

Motion sensor lights 

Consider installing motion sensor lights outside your home. Once the sensor detects movement, the system will light up the area and deter potential thieves by removing their cover of darkness. 

Cameras 

Like motion sensor lights, security cameras work well to deter potential burglars from even trying to enter your garage. Our HD CCTV cameras record true colour daytime video and monochrome night-time footage, capturing all the detail you need if the worst is to happen. 

Alarms 

If you get an electric shutter door or sectional overhead from a reputable supplier, it might come with its own alarm. If not, our team of friendly experts are always on hand to answer any security-related questions. Get in touch to learn about the best alarm solution for you. 

Obstacles  

Burglars will exploit any shelter that trees, hedges or bins close to your garage door may offer, therefore removing or pruning these obstructions can help improve visibility. 

Additionally, you might want to think about strategically placing prickly bushes beneath any garage windows to further deter potential burglars. 

Hiding valuables 

Make sure any valuables you keep in your garage are hidden out of sight. Check out our shed security tips for the best ways to do this in your garage, too. 

If you’re worried about burglar activity near you, check out our Crime in my Area tool for up-to-date crime rates and statistics. You can also explore the UK’s safest locations in our detailed guide. 

Garage security FAQs 

Can a neighbour’s garage door opener trigger my garage door? 

It’s unlikely that your neighbour’s garage door opener will unlock yours, due to the signal being sent on a different frequency. This is more likely to happen with old garage doors that use positioning clips, so consider upgrading if you find your door opens without your say-so. 

Do I need planning permission to change my garage door? 

Because changes to a garage door don’t fundamentally alter the footprint of a property, it’s unlikely you will need planning permission. If in doubt, it’s worth asking your local authority.