Garages are frequently the weakest point in a property's security — and often the most overlooked. Whether your garage is detached and used for storage, or integral to the house with an internal connecting door, the quality of the lock and the robustness of the door itself matters more than most people realise. Here's what to think about.
Why Garages Are Targeted
Garages offer burglars several advantages that make them attractive entry points. They're typically at the side or rear of the property, away from the street. The contents — tools, bikes, garden equipment — are valuable and easy to sell. And if the garage connects to the house, gaining access to the garage is potentially gaining access to the property itself.
Many garages are secured with older hardware that hasn't been updated in years, or with padlocks on flimsy hasps. The combination of low visibility and poor security makes them an easy target.
Types of Garage Door and Their Vulnerabilities
Up-and-Over Doors
The most common type in UK residential properties. These pivot upward and back on a spring mechanism. Their main vulnerability is the locking mechanism itself — many up-and-over doors have a simple central lock with a T-bar handle that can be forced relatively easily. Some can also be lifted slightly at the bottom and the lock disengaged by inserting a tool through the gap.
Improvements: fit a floor bolt or ground anchor that engages when the door is closed, and consider a locking bar across the inside of the door if the garage is accessed from inside the property.
Side-Hinged Garage Doors
These open like a pair of large external doors. They tend to have better locking options than up-and-over doors — a five-lever mortice deadlock can be fitted, and heavy-duty bolt-action locks are available for the top and bottom of each leaf. The hinges are a consideration — exposed hinges should have hinge bolts fitted to prevent the door being lifted off even if the hinges are attacked.
Roller Garage Doors
Modern roller doors typically have built-in locking as part of the mechanism, and many electric roller doors have additional security features. The main risk is the guide rails — if these can be bent or the curtain pulled out of them, the door can be defeated. Ensure the guide rails are solidly fixed to the structure.
Sectional Garage Doors
Sectional doors rise vertically and fold back in sections along the ceiling. These are generally among the more secure garage door types when in good condition, with multiple locking points built into the mechanism. Regular maintenance is important — worn springs or tracks can compromise the locking.
The Connecting Door
If your garage has a door connecting it to the house, this is potentially the most important security consideration of all. Many connecting doors are treated as internal doors — hollow core, basic lock, or no lock at all — because people assume the garage is secure. It often isn't. A connecting door should be treated as an external door: solid core, fitted with a minimum of a five-lever mortice deadlock or a high-quality multi-point lock, and with a robust frame.
Your home insurer may have specific requirements about the security standard of a connecting garage door. Check your policy documents.
Padlocks on Garages
If your garage has a hasp-and-padlock setup, the quality of both components matters. A heavy padlock on a lightweight hasp screwed into soft timber is easily defeated — the hasp gives before the padlock does. Fit a substantial steel hasp with coach bolts (not woodscrews) through the door frame, and use a closed-shackle padlock where the metal loop is recessed into the body, making it resistant to bolt cutters and attack.
Don't forget the side door: Many garages have a pedestrian side door as well as the main vehicle door. These are often fitted with very basic locks — sometimes just a simple nightlatch. A side door with a poor lock is frequently easier to attack than the main door. Fit a five-lever mortice lock and make sure the frame is solid.
Electric Garage Doors and Remote Controls
Electric garage doors are convenient but introduce their own security considerations. Keep the remote control secure — don't leave it in an unlocked car on the driveway. Many modern electric doors have rolling-code technology that changes the access code with each use, making them resistant to code-grabbing devices, but older systems may not. If your electric door is more than ten years old, it's worth checking whether the opener meets current security standards.
Always ensure an electric door also has a manual locking option for when power is unavailable, and that the emergency release mechanism (usually a pull cord) cannot be activated from outside the door.
Getting Garage Security Sorted in Stourbridge
AMP Lock can assess and improve garage door security across Stourbridge, Halesowen, Dudley, Kingswinford, and surrounding areas — whether that's fitting a quality padlock and hasp, upgrading a connecting door lock, or advising on the best approach for your specific door type. Call or WhatsApp on 07961 169 681. No call-out fee, pricing confirmed before we start.