Garage Door Security: The Essential Guide for Hampshire Homes

We often spend thousands securing our front doors with multi-point locks and video doorbells, yet we frequently ignore the biggest entrance in the house: the garage.

For intruders, the garage is often viewed as the “weak link.” It frequently contains high-value items like e-bikes, power tools, and gym equipment. Worse still, if your garage is attached to your home, a secure garage door is the only barrier standing between a burglar and your kitchen.

At KJM Group, we believe that security shouldn’t be an afterthought. This comprehensive guide breaks down exactly how burglars target garage doors, and the technology we use to stop them.

Modern materials like GRP offer the look of timber with superior durability and security.

1. How Burglars Attack: Understanding the Threat

To secure your home, you first need to understand the methods thieves use. It isn’t always brute force.

• Lock Snapping: The most common method. Intruders use simple tools to snap the cylinder lock in half, exposing the mechanism to open the door in under 30 seconds.
• “Fishing”: On automated doors, thieves sometimes use a coat hanger to hook the emergency release cord at the top of the door, disengaging the motor to lift the door manually.
• Levering: On single-point locking doors (common on older models), a crowbar under the bottom corner can bend the door enough to pop the latch.

2. The Gold Standard: Secured by Design

You will often see the logo “SBD” or “Secured by Design” on our brochures. This is not just marketing; it is the official UK Police flagship initiative.

For a garage door (like the Garador Guardian range or SeceuroGlide Excel) to earn this badge, it must pass the rigorous LPS 1175 test. This involves professional testers attempting to break in using a specific set of tools—including drills, screwdrivers, and crowbars—for a set period. If they can’t get in, the door is certified.

3. Security by Door Type

Not all doors are created equal. Here is how the different mechanisms handle security.

A. Up & Over Doors (The “Guardian” Upgrade)

Standard Up & Over doors often have just two latching points. However, the Garador Guardian Range is engineered specifically for security:

• 4-Point Locking: Latches engage at the top and bottom corners on both sides, making the door practically impossible to lever open.
• Anti-Snap Cylinder: A sacrificial cut line ensures that if the lock is snapped, the secure part remains inside the door.
• Steel Plates: A reinforcing plate protects the lock body from being drilled out.

B. Roller Doors (Locking Clamps)

Cheap roller doors rely on simple gravity or plastic clips to stay closed—these can often be pushed up by hand.
The KJM Solution: We install the SeceuroGlide Excel. It features unique auto-locking mechanical clamps. When the door hits the floor, these clamps physically wedge the curtain into the tracks. The more you try to lift it, the tighter it locks.

C. Sectional Doors (Structural Strength)

Sectional doors are inherently secure due to their design. Because the panels sit inside deep steel tracks behind the brickwork, there are no “gap points” for a crowbar to attack. When paired with an electric motor, the steel boom acts as a solid arm, holding the door firmly shut against forced entry.

Four locking points are far superior to the standard two found on older doors.

4. Electronic Smarts: Beyond Physical Locks

Physical locks are vital, but modern technology adds an invisible layer of protection.

Rolling Code Technology:
Old electric openers used a fixed frequency that could be copied by “code grabbers.” Modern operators (like the Garador GaraMatic) use 128-bit encryption. The code changes every single time you use the remote, making recording devices useless.

Smart App Integration:
With a smart module, your phone becomes your security guard. You can receive alerts if the door is left open after a certain time (Geofencing) and close it remotely from your office.

At a Glance: Standard vs. Secure

Is it worth paying extra for the “Guardian” or “Excel” upgrade? Here is the difference.

5. Practical Tips for Garage Safety

Security isn’t just about the door itself. Here are three quick wins for Hampshire homeowners:

• Secure the Internal Door: If your garage connects to your house, that connecting door should be treated as an external door. Fit it with a 5-lever deadlock.
• Frost the Windows: If you are buying a door with glazing options, choose “Obscure” or “Satin” glass. It lets light in but stops thieves from “window shopping” for your tools.
• Don’t Ignore Maintenance: A rusty door with a stiff lock is easier to break. Regular servicing ensures the latches engage fully every time you close it.

Frequently Asked Questions