topic Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes in Community Chat

New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

Julie928 — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:05:49 GMT

I receive daily emails informing residents of what's new in the area. One of the emails I just got detailed a new way thieves are breaking into homes. They are breaking into cars parked in driveways and using the garage door opener to get into the house. Once inside, they help themselves to whatever they want including the car keys and take off with the car. I never thought of this and it makes sense ~ how easy would that be? Our garage is attached to the house but we have three large dogs but you never know. When our garage door broke recently we had to leave both cars in the driveway and I never gave a second thought to bring in the opener. This happened in towns about 20 minutes away but I still remind my husband to bring the opener in. Why invite trouble, right? :-)

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

ccassaday — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:11:33 GMT

Yep. Or while your shopping sinc your registration is usually in the glove box with your garage remote and it has your address on it.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

ccassaday — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:13:04 GMT

We flip our security switch on at night so the garage can't be opened. Usually my dads car is outside in the summer because of the kids toys.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:17:00 GMT

...yep! This is why I object to DH leaving his car out at night, although he always brings in the garage remote....even if they don't get into the house, damage could be done to the car.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

PinkyPetunia — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:20:16 GMT

Another security measure to take is to lock the door from the garage leading into the house. We try to remember to lock this door every night.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homesn

Pinkroses — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:23:42 GMT

i carried my opener in my purse. And I have an alarm system for my condo, which I use daily. Of course I need to be careful with my purse!

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homesn

chickenbutt — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:28:15 GMT

Always one step ahead, eh?

This is why my husband, who parks his vehicle in our driveway purposely so that it's obvious that somebody is home, brings in his garage door opener. I put up a hook for him, just inside the door from the garage where he can hang his keys AND his garage door opener.

I'm always keyed in on every way to try and be as safe as possible.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

SeaMaiden — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 00:07:09 GMT

So many people where I live have garages but they are so full of junk that their cars sit in the driveway or on the street. One neighbor has a three car garage...four cars sit in the drive way.. Time to clean out the junk! People are such hoarders!

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

sidsmom — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:47:24 GMT

Wouldn't one lock the door from the house to the garage?

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

maestra — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:47:50 GMT

Put you remote in your purse or make sure to bring it inside.

We always lock our doors from the garage to the house. Why make it any easier?

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

KingstonsMom — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:50:22 GMT

Thank you for the info, OP! We can't be too careful these days.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

colliegirls — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:51:38 GMT

That has been going on for some time. Our cars are in the garage and our door from the garage to the house is always locked, whether we are home or not.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

libbyannE — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:54:46 GMT

That method has been in the news, off and on, for a few years. The other thing that has happened is thieves going to where cars are parked for big events, such as concerts and games, and breaking into cars, getting the opener, finding out from the license plates and online research or from items left in car what address the car belongs to, and breaking in while homeowners are at a public event.

The bottom line? Do not leave your garage door remote in the car, or lock it up so at least it is not visible. And be sure you have a good deadbolt on the door from inside the garage into your home.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

maestra — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:59:20 GMT

DH and I agree w/you and we will be locking the remote in the glove box, where the bad guys at least wont be able to see it.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

chickenbutt — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:59:58 GMT

maestra wrote:
Put you remote in your purse or make sure to bring it inside.

We always lock our doors from the garage to the house. Why make it any easier?

The only thing I would caution about that is that you could accidentally hit the button, open the garage door, and not realize it.

I only say that because my husband used to bring his in with him and have it in his pocket or something and was always hitting the button without realizing it. He would be on the other side of the house, so he wouldn't even hear the garage door opening.

That's why I put up the hook for him so that as soon as he comes into the house from the garage (vehicle out in driveway, but he goes through the garage and comes in that door), he hangs his keys and opener before he can do something inadvertently.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

hoosieroriginal — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 00:12:56 GMT

Almost nightly in Indianapolis a neighborhood is targeted - and AGAIN the news people remind people not to leave personal items in their car if it is left in driveway or on the street - people are STILL complaining that laptops, purses, wallets, cellphones were taken - when will people learn - we don't live in the 1950s anymore! You can't leave your car and home unlocked!

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

ROMARY — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 00:24:07 GMT

I've been hearing that they have some kind of electronic contraption that unlocks car door (newer cars). Also, we have a slider lock, chain lock and one of those door jamb (?) flipper gadgets on front door and interior garage-kitchen doors. Also, I've seen on one of the home shopping channels and/or advertisement: a type of alarm gadget that sounds off the minute a door knob/door is opened, or when the door is moved to open.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

Kachina624 — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 00:29:04 GMT

This isn't new. I've often heard that you should keep your garage door opener in your purse. Even if your car was broken into while you're at work or shopping, there are probably things in your car with your address. All thieves have to do is go to your house with your opener and help themselves.

FYI: There is also a way thieves can get into your garage by putting a long, skinny wire into the crack at the top of the door and snagging and pulling release rope that hangs down. Then the door can easily be opened and shut manually.

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

ROMARY — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 00:29:07 GMT

p.s. Just guessing that the safest way is to unplug the electric garage door, and 'lock' the track-chain so it can't move in any direction. But, if there is a window in the garage..............that's another problem. Well, looks as though it's best to heavily secure the interior door that leads to the house from the garage. 'It's always something'.............

Re: New Way Thieves are Breaking Into Homes

hoosieroriginal — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 00:35:15 GMT

I've also had to get stern with my friend - she has a huge purse she hauls around and when we get ready to go in to a store or restaurant, she wants to leave her bag in the car - I tell her someone is not breaking into MY car for HER purse - I make her take it with her.