Garage Door - Hacked

[drvnbysound]

I've seen various opinions regarding garage door security here. I recently added a garage door sensor to my system and also connected the GDO to a controllable output. Having said that, a friend recently emailed me the following link which shows how easy it can be for someone to get into your garage (although it would take a bit longer if you don't have windows built into your garage door): http://lifehacker.com/5549366/how-to-unlock-your-garage-door-from-the-outside-and-how-to-prevent-it
 
While I don't have any single items that are overly expensive sitting in my garage waiting to be taken, there are plenty of things which are valuable to me and wouldn't be cheap to replace (e.g. tools). Because of this, I treat my garage door as an entry to my home.
 
I just wanted to share in case other people would like to protect against this as well.

 

[apostolakisl]

That's how you open a garage door from the outside if you are not the destructive type.
 
A crowbar slipped under the garage will open it even faster, just that it also tends to break the traveler on the automatic opener.
 
To actually lock the door you really have to have one of those slide latches on the side.  Perhaps someone makes a remote control, powered version of one of those?
 
But as you mentioned, alarming the garage door is good.

 

[FaderJockey]

I use a heavy duty padlock through a hole I drilled on the track above a roller.
 
With it in place the door cannot open, but has just enough travel to trigger the sensor.
 
It's not the everyday lock, but if I'll be away for a while it goes on.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

There are solenoids you can get that should be able to activate a bolt of some sort that could be activated via a rolling code remote if you wanted to roll your own DIY solution to a 'dead bolt'.

 

[JonW]

The Liftmaster (jackshaft) door openers come with a deadbolt solenoid.  Not sure if that solenoid could be ordered separately as a replacement part.

 

[Desert_AIP]

That's why the garage door has a contact and there is a motion sensor in the garage.

When on vacation I padlock the manual slide bolt.

 

[Desert_AIP]

The Liftmaster (jackshaft) door openers come with a deadbolt solenoid.  Not sure if that solenoid could be ordered separately as a replacement part.

Yes it can.
I have one to experiment with.
They are 12 VDC, the cost was ~$36 IIRC.

http://www.gatehousesupplies.com/41A6102-power-door-lock-rjo-3800-p/12-41a6102.htm

http://www.amazon.com/LiftMaster-Power-41A6102-Garage-Opener/dp/B002P5IL8G/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_1
 
 
Here's a cache link to getchel's article until the portal data tranfer catches up:
http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=cocoontech+41A6102&d=4626702868021436&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=bm6m3VY73s83-xGTvCPxxUWb8KaQhFq6

 

[tmbrown97]

Someone here rolled their own like a year ago - IIRC, they used aftermarket power door locks to drive a latch that was reverse mounted to the house, not the door.
 
When I go on vacation, I do engage the deadbolts and unplug the openers and arm the doors.

 

[newalarm]

I was told that you have to be careful putting manual deadbolt on the door, because if you forget, the opener will pull up and tend to damage door. Most openers don't have a limiter when going up. Only when going down.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

I was told that you have to be careful putting manual deadbolt on the door, because if you forget, the opener will pull up and tend to damage door. Most openers don't have a limiter when going up. Only when going down.

If you are worried about this you could wire in a relay as a safety interlock to disable operation of your garage door while the deadbolt is enabled.  You could say wire in the contacts to open the line to the controller and have that relay activated via power to the deadbolt.  Or, if the deadbolt isn't automated, perhaps some sort of magnet on the 'bolt' somehow to detect when it is in the closed position and have that contact wired into the door control.

 

[Kevin L]

The Liftmaster (jackshaft) door openers come with a deadbolt solenoid.  Not sure if that solenoid could be ordered separately as a replacement part.

That's the garage door opener I have. Besides not having a track and motor on the ceiling, the deadbolt is the feature I like best. About a second after the door closes, the deadbolt slams shut, sounding like a vault closing.

 

[video321]

I didn't realize there was that much worry over this. Everybody knows how easy it is to get into a garage, so we arm them. Why go over board with this when there is more of a chance a thief is just going to kick a door open or throw your patio chair through the back slider? Unless, of course, you have re-inforced doors and shatterproof windows!

 

[NickTheGreat]

I didn't realize there was that much worry over this. Everybody knows how easy it is to get into a garage, so we arm them. Why go over board with this when there is more of a chance a thief is just going to kick a door open or throw your patio chair through the back slider? Unless, of course, you have re-inforced doors and shatterproof windows!

 
My thoughts exactly.  Even if you padlock the crap out of the door, it's still 20ga steel.  :blink:

 

[Kevin L]

If someone's determined to get into your home, they will. However, the more difficult you make unauthorized entry, the less likely burglars choose your home. My garage door has the automatic deadbolt and is hurricane reinforced (I'm in SW Florida) so it would be pretty touch to kick it in. I have security cameras all around the outside, in the garage, and on the first floor inside. They are not hidden outside, as I prefer them to be a detterent rather than have to rely on them to apprehend someone. When we go away, even for the weekend, all the sliders and front entry doors are closed off by rolldown and accordion hurricane shutters. The windows are all triple-glazed impact (hurricane) glass. Throwing a chair at it would not break them. With all that, I have an Elk-M1G and a Glock 23.
 
Some may say I'm paranoid, but I don't worry about my home being targeted when there are numerous homes on my block that don't have these security measures.
 
Kevin

 

[sic0048]

Definitely make the garage door a entry door.  I use a longer entry delay and have also set it allow it to be forced armed.  That way I can arm the system with the garage door up without any issues.