My Garage Door Opener Has Been Stolen: What Do I Do?
In spite of the noticeable reduction in break-ins nationwide, the threat of burglaries persists, and garages have become an increasingly tempting entry point for criminals to steal the valuables of unsuspecting homeowners.
With a stolen garage door opener or remote, offenders can secretly access a person’s home with relatively minimal effort or detection. As a result, it is evermore essential that careful steps are taken in order to protect our homes from this kind of break-in.
Within these small devices lies your security password – capable of unlocking your garage door without alerting you beforehand. In case of stolen garage door openers, it is urgent to act swiftly and take steps to secure your space from any potential burglary.
Securing your home should be a priority, so if your garage door opener remote has been taken, fast action is key. Our guide will equip you with insight into how to keep your property safe and secure regardless of the circumstances. Below are some measures you can take if you suspect your garage door opener remote has been stolen.
1. Call the Police
If you have a sinking feeling that your garage door opener remote is nowhere to be found – whether it be stolen off your keychain or otherwise missing – then you must call the police before anything else.
It’s best to provide them with as much detail as possible, such as any evidence you may have that could paint a picture of who was responsible (a CCTV recording, financial information, etc.). Taking this action may just help them to track down the thief.
The police may be the ones to investigate further or even locate your remote, if available, to demonstrate a suspect’s guilt. After notifying law enforcement, consider taking extra measures to safeguard your garage door and yourself from future theft attempts.
2. Deactivate Your Remote
To keep your family and home safe, disable your garage door opener remote first. The specific method for doing so will vary depending on the model of your opener, but there are a few common steps you’ll need to take:
Reprogram the System
Do you want to ensure your garage door remotes are protected from theft? If so, a rolling code system on your garage door opener could be your saving grace. With this system, you can easily erase all your remote controls from your opener and then simply reprogram the remotes you still have into the system. Once this is done the stolen remote is useless to the would be intruders.
Replace the Remote
If you’d prefer to take a proactive approach to protect your home from burglary, you can replace your existing garage door opener with a new one. Doing so will give you the option to alter the security settings so that no one, not even someone that manages to obtain the old remote, can access your home.
To switch out your garage door opener and attain the desired safety levels, consult the manufacturer’s website or the manual accompanying the initial opener.
3. Change Your Security Code
With stolen garage door openers, the protection of your home is of utmost importance, which is why it is recommended to modify your garage door opener system’s security code.
This simple step will make sure that should your remote become deactivated or stolen, any unauthorized access to your household is impossible. Even if an old remote is obtained or changed with a different code, your home will remain secure.
Doing so requires a bit of know-how, which you can acquire by getting your hands on the manufacturer’s manual for your garage door opener or by visiting their website for tips and instructions.
4. Opt for a New System
Aging garage door openers come with many risks. To ensure your safety and the security of your belongings, why not consider investing in a newer system?
The latest and greatest models come complete with a wealth of features designed to bolster protection against break-ins and intruders. A particularly attractive option is remote access control, allowing you to lock and unlock your home’s garage door from anywhere with a laptop or smartphone.
The Liftmaster 84501, which is offered at The Door House, offers such a feature on top of Security+ 2.0. This tech allows the garage door opener to communicate using a rolling code that changes each time the remote is used.
Aside from these three, you can try several proactive measures that include:
- Installing outdoor lighting to illuminate any activity near your garage – doing this gives you the ability to easily spot suspicious activity via CCTV and take action if needed.
- Adding an alarm system to alert you of any suspicious activity.
- Securing the remote itself by storing it in a secure place where only you can access it. You can also attach it to your keychain so you’ll always have it with you.
In need of other helpful resources? Visit our blog posts at The Door House to learn more tips on garage door security, safety, and maintenance.