You might think of your attached or detached garage as a storage place or junk room. But, think about the items you have inside the structure? Do you really want to lose them? Do you want to lose your car? If a thief were to gain access to the garage, then they could still cause you to lose a lot of money and security. What can you do, instead, to protect every item inside?
Why Garages Face Risks
As we gain possessions in life, we often have to move certain items into the garage for storage. Think about expensive bikes and sporting gear, household belongings, Christmas decorations and of course, your car. All these might live in your garage. Yet, by doing so, they might also face theft risks.
Garages often contain a lot of valuable belongings in one area. They also might sit to the side of, or even detached from, a home’s main structure. They therefore have a fair amount of isolation. Due to facts like these, thieves might see the garage as easy entry or exit points to start a robbery. They might even be able to enter a home through the garage and make a getaway with very little or no detection.
One perk in your favor is that your home’s insurance will likely include contents coverage. This protection should extend to items stored in the garage. So, if you need to make a claim for theft, you likely can get a settlement to repair or replace damaged items. Of course, you might need high coverage limits or riders to protect the most-expensive belongings' values. Talk to your agent about the right limits for you.
Protecting Items in the Garage
Even if you have home insurance, you don’t want to have to file a claim on it for theft. Doing so equals a big inconvenience, and it might even raise your insurance risk profile. So, do what you can to increase security in and around your garage.
- Don’t place precious assets in the garage. Jewelry, loose cash and similar items should always go into a safe or lock box.
- Place locks and anchors on movable items. Chain up your bikes and lock your tools in a cabinet. Always lock your car even if it is in the garage.
- Extend your home’s security system in to the garage. In most cases, full-home alarm systems can extend into the space. Consider keeping a motion-activated camera system inside and outside the garage.
- Install strong locks on the garage door and all garage windows.
- Keep a motion-activated light near the garage door. It can turn on if someone gets near the garage.
If you have insurance, contact your agent and tell them about the home’s security system. They can help you determine if you are eligible for discounts and other savings.