The 6 second Garage Door Break-in That’s Going Viral
Your garage door is a crucial part of your home security. It’s also the largest entry way to your home. If an intruder gains easy access to your garage, everything inside is vulnerable. If you haven’t taken basic precautions for your garage door, your home itself may be vulnerable to the 6 second break-in (6-second break-in).
HOW IT WORKS
This 6-second break-in is a garage door break-in that exploits or hacks a weakness in your release system. The release system disengages your overhead door from your opener so that it can be used during a power outage. The system features an emergency release cord that hangs down, usually with a red handle. Pulling this cord activates the release system. This means the door can be opened manually, as well as bypassing the locking system of your opener.
The 6-second break-in hack involves just 3 things:
- Wire coat hanger
- Small wedge, like a door stopper
- A little patience (very little)
The potential home invader inserts the wedge between the door and the wall at the top. It will easily slide behind the weather stripping, creating a very small gap. The wire coat hanger is inserted through this narrow gap. Now comes the patience. The hook at the end of the coat hanger has to grasp the release mechanism. Trying to grab the pull cord won’t work because you won’t have the right leverage to pull it down. After some practice, this trick can be pulled off in just six seconds, believe it or not.
Video From Shark Tank
HOW TO PREVENT IT WITH A GARAGE SHIELD
Prevent the 6-second break-in with a Garage Shield and eliminate the risk to the six-second break-in itself. It is a separate piece of hardware you can easily install yourself in seconds. It slides over the emergency release mechanism and carriage to block access to the release.
The Garage Shield is UL Code 325 complaint and does not harm the federal regulation for emergency release mechanisms.
What’s the BIG Risk
- Criminal gains access to your home without leaving evidence
- No broken glass/door, so cops think a false alarm
- No one wakes up: Dogs /neighbors / or YOU
- Criminal parks pickup in garage and loads up
- Criminal is violent and attacks while you sleep
MORE SECURITY STEPS TO TAKE
There are other basic measures you can implement to beef up your security. First, always make sure your access door from your garage to the house has a lock. If an intruder gains entry to your garage, this will slow them down before getting into your home. Second, if you are leaving your home for an extended period such as a vacation, unplug the garage door opener. This will prevent anyone from hacking your opener with another remote. Third, always keep your car locked up when storing it in the garage. Last, take an inventory of anything particularly valuable stored in your garage to help you identify any stolen items.
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Warning—To reduce the risk of severe injury or death:
1. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
2. Never let children operate, or play with door controls. Keep the remote control away from children.
3. Always keep the moving door in sight and away from people and objects until it is completely closed. No one should cross the path of the moving door.
4. NEVER GO UNDER A STOPPED PARTIALLY OPEN DOOR.
5. Test door opener monthly. The garage door MUST reverse on contact with a 11/2 inch object (or a 2 by 4 board laid flat) on the floor. After adjusting either the force or the limit of travel, retest the door opener. Failure to adjust the opener properly may cause severe injury or death.
6. For products requiring an emergency release, if possible, use the emergency release only when the door is closed. Use caution when using this release with the door open. Weak or broken springs may allow the door to fall rapidly, causing injury or death.
7. KEEP GARAGE DOOR PROPERLY BALANCE. See user’s manual. An improperly balanced door could cause severe injury or death. Have a qualified service person make repairs to cables, spring assemblies and other hardware.Start Printed Page 20237
8. For operator systems equipped with an unattended operation feature, the following statement shall be included: “This operator system is equipped with an unattended operation feature. The door could move unexpectedly. NO ONE SHOULD CROSS THE PATH OF THE MOVING DOOR.”
Isn’t it time you purchased a Garage Shield?
