FAQ - Standard Questions
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The typical garage door break in takes less than a few minutes, with some as quick as 6 seconds. The Garage Shield is a simple, durable, reliable break in deterrent shield, that inhibits the ability for a simple coat hook from accessing the release mechanism and/or emergency rope on the garage opener track assembly.
Be sure to read the FAQ for Insurance claims being denied and zip tie warnings!
Order processing takes about 1-2 business days before shipment. Due to high demand
(or issues with COVID-19 and mail carrier delivery times), it may take longer.
The Garage Shield has been designed to stay firmly attached to your garage door connection arm or J-arm, and should for last many years. There is no maintenance or oiling, which is common with other much more expensive options. It is made from standard ABS plastic and should hold up well in both heat and cold conditions.
The Garage Shield does not require tools. All screws and retainers can be used by hand.
- Hold Shield in position against J-Arm and align Brace assembly for best fit.
- Wrap brace around J-Arm
- Position as high as possible (see video). Snap together.
- Tighten the Thumb Screw to secure in place.
Optional – Loop emergency rope behind Thumb Screw to further secure it out of reach. This is not required as the rope would be very difficult to reach with the Shield in place. *UL Code 325 requires emergency rope handle to be no further than 6 feet distance from the floor of the garage to the red handle.
- Watch Video:
One: 10” X 10” Shield – ABS Plastic
One: 2” X 7” Brace – ABS Plastic
Two: 13/16” Fasteners – Black Nylon Plastic
One: 1/4X20 Thumb Screw – Zinc Metal
One: 1/4X20 U-Clip – Sheet Metal
We are available with these fine stores and we are in active negotiations with all major hardware, many retail, and auto parts stores in the continental United States including Canada and Mexico.
YES! Crafted with pride, sourced 100% inside the United States and assembled in Arizona.
(BTW: Don’t be fooled by a low quality knock off from AZ, that is made in China!)
FAQ - OTHER CONCERNS
Why plastic? Don’t let the design fool you,
there were over a dozen prototypes created of the Garage Shield to bring you the best result possible.:
1) Metal would put unnecessary added weight on the garage opener mechanism, and could break it over time
2) Metal (in some environments) is susceptible to rust
3) Metal is more reflective, and a criminal with a flashlight may detect it’s presence
4) Metal would require tools to attach
Plastic is lighter in weight, made with durable 100% recycled material that doesn’t reflect flashlights, is rust proof, and can be more easily assembled using plastic snap on fasteners (no tools needed).
The average home burglary costs $2200 and wouldn’t be covered without a sign of forced entry such as those using the 6-second break-in. This is a one-time investment to add a layer of security to your home.
Plus, the product is built in the USA and future inventory will support disabled Americans.
Doing the measuring and taking all calculations into account, going to your local hardware store, trying to find the right material that you actually need, then coming home and assembling it, can cost you upwards of $50-$80 including your time (opportunity cost). And we all know those DIY projects always take more than one trip to the local hardware store. How much is you time and energy really worth? The Garage Shield installs in seconds and is available for only $19.95.
Do you really want to take that chance?
Most Victims Know Their Attacker
About 85 to 90 percent of sexual assaults reported by college women are perpetrated by someone known to the victim; about half occur on a date. The most common locations are the man’s or woman’s home in the context of a party or a date. The perpetrators may range from classmates to neighbors.
Half of all student victims do not define the incident as “rape.” This is especially true when no weapon was used, there is no obvious physical injury, and alcohol was involved — factors commonly associated with campus acquaintance rape. This is one reason rape and other sexual assaults on campus are not well reported.
Fewer than 5 percent of completed and attempted rapes of college students are reported to campus administrators or law enforcement, according to one study. Failure to recognize and report the crime to law enforcement officials may contribute to underestimating the extent of the problem and may affect whether victims seek medical care. However, those who report in other contexts, such as through a confidential reporting system, are more likely to seek medical or counseling services.
No other product is as lightweight, federally compliant (legal), UL325 compliant, easy to set up, while also being maintenance-free, as the Garage Shield. We believe this is the best theft deterrent on the market. Again there is no maintenance, it will not interfere with the operation of your garage door opener. Even IDA administrative members carry our product.
Link: Zip Ties Violate Federal Regulations and UL 325 certification requirements.
Using a Zip Tie or cutting the emergency rope is illegal, and dangerous!
Never use a zip tie to lock your garage door emergency rope mechanism. Using a Zip Tie prevents easy access to the life-saving operation intended by the emergency mechanism. There are false claims on the internet that the zip tie can be easily be broken by using two hands. This is simply not true especially if a vehicle is parked in the garage making the angle of access difficult, let alone when suffering from smoke inhalation! Ask any fire department staff and they staunchly warn you against using zip ties on your garage.
The Garage Shield allows for easy access to the emergency release rope, while still blocking intruders from reaching the rope from the outside. All this and installed in only 4-6 seconds ….and without TOOLS!
Zip Ties can trap you, a loved one, or other person in your garage during a fire or other emergency. Theres TONS of articles and media coverage saying not to do it. You’d have to be pretty clueless to think it’s a good idea to block an emergency exit …. you would’t put duct tape on an airplane emergency exit right? The news media has been criticized for advocating zip ties because they block emergency exists and put homeowners at risk.
If something terrible happens and you file a claim with your insurance company, and the adjuster finds out you tampered with the exit, you’ll probably be denied. This device is recommended by the garage door industry including law enforcement and fire, because it doesn’t block an exit. The Garage shield is complaint with UL Code 325 and Federal Safety Regulations.
Yes, it is possible that your insurance company can and may deny or at least delay, any insurance claims for home intrusion, break ins, burglaries, or other criminal activity resulting from criminals breaking into your home using the 6-second break-in!
Why? Because insurance companies during their investigation to ensure an actual crime has been committed (and was not a result of owner carelessness or worse, insurance fraud), need evidence of forced break in. As the 6-second break-in does not leave evidence, your claim can easily be denied.*
Worse, if you have a home security system that reports the alarm to your local police dept. and they arrive and see no forced entry, they would generally leave the home and assume it was a false alarm.
*Check with your insurance provider and/or your state insurance commission for details. Many will not provide a solid respond and simply state that its up to the claims department and their research of the crime.
FAQ - Common misconceptions
A dog attacks a criminal, even in self defense, and it’s almost guaranteed you’ll go to court…and the criminal can sue you for physical pain and hospital bills. Sorry, that’s the reality. If your dog attacks or kills him, you’re standing in front of a grand jury and you have a whole nightmare in front of you.
Plus an untrained guard dog may not respond whatsoever to a defensive situation, especially if offered food. That said, buying a dog, training a dog, feeding it, and medical bills, all take a tremendous amount of resources. The Garage Shield installs in just seconds and costs only $24.95, and might even protect the dog from a violent intruder.
If you use any self defense against an attack, wether it’s a gun or a toaster oven, you’ll have to stand before a grand jury and testify. Plus, the intended target (no the victim) will probably sue you for pain, suffer or death (from their family).
Is that really worth not spending a few dollars to prevent all those life changing headaches?
Your insurance company can delay and even DENY a claim if the intruder breaks in using the 6-second break-in. Plus, insurance can’t adequately replace items of sentimental value.
Warning! There is no sign / evidence of “FORCED ENTRY” when an intruder uses the 6-second break-in. Insurance claims can be denied if there is no sign of forced entry.
Under normal circumstances it may take local law enforcement up to 15-20 minutes to respond. Law enforcement won’t enter a home if there is no sign of forced entry or suspicious activity.
Warning! There is no sign / evidence of “FORCED ENTRY” when an intruder uses the 6-second break-in. To law enforcement, no forced entry means no sign of criminal activity. If no sign of criminal activity, cops will leave assuming you had a false alarm.
Alarms don’t keep people out of your home and are are expensive, and rarely monitor the garage door itself.
Don’t believe us? Call your alarm company and say you want to add a sensor to the garage door. They will not do it for many reasons!
Should the alarm trigger, criminals can simply close the garage door and wait for the police to leave (while they load up on your belongings in their pickup now hidden in your garage).
Link: Zip Ties Violate Federal Regulations and UL 325 certification requirements.
Using a Zip Tie or cutting the emergency rope is illegal, and dangerous!
Never use a zip tie to lock your garage door emergency rope mechanism. Using a Zip Tie prevents easy access to the life-saving operation intended by the emergency mechanism. There are false claims on the internet that the zip tie can be easily be broken by using two hands. This is simply not true especially if a vehicle is parked in the garage making the angle of access difficult, let alone when suffering from smoke inhalation! Ask any fire department staff and they staunchly warn you against using zip ties on your garage.
The Garage Shield allows for easy access to the emergency release rope, while still blocking intruders from reaching the rope from the outside. All this and installed in only 4-6 seconds ….and without TOOLS!
Zip Ties can trap you, a loved one, or other person in your garage during a fire or other emergency. Theres TONS of articles and media coverage saying not to do it. You’d have to be pretty clueless to think it’s a good idea to block an emergency exit …. you would’t put duct tape on an airplane emergency exit right? The news media has been criticized for advocating zip ties because they block emergency exists and put homeowners at risk.
If something terrible happens and you file a claim with your insurance company, and the adjuster finds out you tampered with the exit, you’ll probably be denied. This device is recommended by the garage door industry including law enforcement and fire, because it doesn’t block an exit. The Garage shield is complaint with UL Code 325 and Federal Safety Regulations.
If you bolt your door closed, then you don’t use your opener to drive to and from work every day. Otherwise, you would get tired of getting out of your car each time, to lock/unlock the garage door.
A properly installed new garage door should prevent the 6-second break-in, but that is only a temporary fix because the average garage door opens & shuts 1500 times a year and will become vulnerable over time. Paying to servicing your garage door can costs hundreds of dollars, but anyone can install a Garage Shield for only $19.95 to ensure their property is protected at all times.