The title is scary, but it is accurate, and you should know about it! I didn’t know about it until someone pointed it out to me, and I wish I knew earlier and could have probably avoided a break-in to my garage.
The following method is nothing new to burglars or the internet, so I’m not exposing any secrets or making it easier for burglars. There are many videos out there showing the exact steps on how to get access to a garage in around 6 seconds. It’s even titled the 6-second entry but believe me, professional burglars have probably fine-tuned and specialized their tools, which might make it even easier for them.
Before we dive in, let me show you what the weak point in your garage is.
Burglars are gaining very quick access into your garage by misusing the emergency exit opener function.
Imagine your power went out, or the garage door opener buttons don’t work; this would leave you trapped in the garage. If you ever have to leave the house or garage in an emergency and have to go through the garage door, pull the cord, and the door mechanically disconnects from the track. Yes, that’s the same way how the burglar gets in, but this time, it is you and/or your family from the inside trying to quickly and safely leave the garage.
Let’s have a look at how the lever should work.
Just a short pull on the red emergency exit cord, and you are able to push the garage door up end exit the building.
The Easiest Way To Breaking Into Your Garage In 6 Seconds
Now that we have covered the lever’s purpose let me show you how this function can be misused. You’ll now see the exact same process in the video below. The video is probably the original one, which has been published almost 9 years ago until it was picked up by mainstream media 7 years ago. However, the video from the media outlet contains some very bad advice, which is why I won’t link to the one with more views but the original homemade one.
As you can see, the process is quick, easy, and quiet. Now imagine how fast a routined guy could do it with a specialized tool instead of just a coat hanger.
But guess what, it might get even easier if you have an alternative opening mechanism for the garage like I have in this example. If your garage door has a second lock at the top of the door, that might mean that there is a string attached to the lock that connects to the emergency exit opener.
Instead of trying to fish for the lever or the red emergency cord with the handle, burglars could fish for the string and pull it as well with the same result and even faster than 6 seconds!
However, there is also a need for that additional lock. If you are renting a detached garage, you most likely have only one entry – the garage door. If you lost your key or the power is out, and the garage won’t open with the regular clicker, you or the landlord might have to use this method to gain access.
How to prevent the 6-second Garage break-in method
Now that you have learned about the easiest way burglars are able to enter your property, you probably want to know how to prevent it. There are many products/solutions on the market to help out with that exact problem, some good and some not so good and some terrible recommendations that could get you in some serious trouble. Since this will be a more extensive post than this one, which should just make you aware of the issue, I’ll cover the different methods and solutions in an upcoming post.
Please note: I really want you to keep in mind in case you have an attached garage, once the burglar is in the garage, he is most likely in your house as well. Most Garages have a second door that leads inside the house. Make sure you have the second door closed as well, if possible.
Stay safe!