Everyone emphasizes the importance of safety on the road, but have you ever considered the safety of your garage? Just as car tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, there are other things you can do to ensure your car is safe on the road as well as when it’s parked at your home. Specifically, how secure is your car when kept in your garage? There are key practices for keeping your car safe that you should know about. In this blog, we’ll share seven of the top practices to safeguard your car. Let’s get started.
1. Lock Your Garage Door
Every home should have a garage, and every garage keeps a car. Your garage is meant to be a safe space for your car. If your garage door doesn’t lock properly, it could mean that burglars who can open the door when you’re away might access your car and take your valuables.
Pro Tip: If there’s an issue with your garage door lock, it’s important to have it fixed or replaced to keep your car secure. According to The Spruce, a garage door can last over 50 years with proper maintenance but may only last 10 years if neglected. If your garage is old, call a local garage door company to see what your replacement options are.
2. Make Sure Your Car Locks
Even when your car is parked in the garage, it’s important to lock it. Leaving your car unlocked not only makes it an easy target for burglars to steal your valuables but also poses risks to curious children. Kids might enter your car unsupervised and play with buttons, or even accidentally release the handbrake. This could lead to the car moving and causing accidents. The New York Times found that car manufacturers had failed to issue recalls in the United States that had been issued overseas. Some of these recalls have included lock failure.
Pro Tip: Always lock your car when in the garage, and store the car keys in a place accessible only to adults.
3. Recharge the Battery
If you’ve got more than one car, lucky you! But don’t forget about the battery in the car you don’t use often. Keep it charged by starting it up sometimes and letting it idle for a few minutes. Just be sure to open the garage door, so any exhaust can escape outside. A car idling in a closed garage can be seriously dangerous.
Pro Tip: Leaving a car parked for weeks can mess with its parts and drain the battery. If your battery dies, things like your tracker won’t work.
4. Keep Your Tracking Device On
It’s crucial to keep your tracking device on, even when your car is parked at home, safely tucked in your garage.
Pro Tip: If your car’s GPS is turned off, it can seriously delay the police and tracking company in finding your car if it’s stolen.
5. Keep the Windows of Your Car Shut
The best way to protect your car while it’s in the garage is by keeping those windows shut tight. Open windows invite dust and potential break-ins, plus they can mess with your car’s interior.
Pro Tip: Once you park, double-check that all your car windows are closed properly to keep everything safe and snug inside.
6. Remove Valuables
Once you’ve parked, be sure to take out any valuables that might tempt potential thieves; things like cell phones, tablets, bags, shoes, jewelry, and the like. They’re all magnets for break-ins.
Pro Tip: After locking up, give a quick check inside to ensure no valuables are left sitting on the car seats. It’s an easy way to keep your belongings safe from prying eyes.
7. Activate the Alarm
Once you park your car, always make sure that the alarm is always activated. This is one of the practices that will alert you should anyone try to break into your car.
Pro Tip: Every time you suspect your alarm no longer works, take your car to a technician.
Your home should be your haven, but surprisingly, you’re more likely to face crime there than at work. That’s because many safety measures we see in the workplace aren’t always in place at home, including keeping your garage secure. It’s important to bring some safety measures home to ensure your car’s safety all the time.
