Garage Door Security Gaps Burglars Look For in Panel Lift Setups

Garage Door Security Gaps Burglars Look For in Panel Lift Setups

Your garage door is one of the easiest entry points for burglars to exploit. In fact, home break-ins across Australia rose to 218,000 households in 2023-24, and a large chunk of those happened through the garage.

So why is it such an easy target? Older setups often have worn seals, exposed release cords, and visible gaps that can be spotted straight from the street. Panel lift doors, on the other hand, can offer strong security, but only when they’re installed correctly and maintained over time.

If those vulnerabilities are keeping you up at night, you’re in the right place.

This guide breaks down the exact weak points burglars look for and explains how modern systems help block forced entry. You’ll also learn which upgrades actually make a difference, so you can lock down your garage before someone decides to test it.

Why Garage Door Security Is Often the Weakest Link

Your garage door is often the weakest link in home security because it connects directly to your house and rarely gets the same attention as your front door or windows. This happens as most homeowners focus on alarms and security cameras for the main entry points, then forget the garage altogether.

Believe it or not, burglars actively target garages because they know exactly what’s inside. Here’s what makes them such an easy target:

• High-value Storage: Your garage holds cars, bikes, power tools, and other valuables that are easy to grab and sell quickly. That alone puts it on a burglar’s radar.
• Direct House Access: Once inside the garage, many intruders find a door that leads straight into the main living area (and yes, that includes the internal door most people leave unlocked).
• Overlooked Security: Older panel lift doors often lack modern lock systems, so a basic pry bar or coat hanger can get the job done in seconds.

When you add all three together, your garage becomes a prime target for anyone looking for a quick way in.

Common Security Gaps Burglars Exploit in Older Panel Lift Doors

Most break-ins through garage doors take under six seconds when the door has visible weak points. Intruders don’t need special tools or training; they just need to spot the right gap from the street.

There are three most common security gaps we see in older panel lift doors.

Worn Weatherstripping and Visible Gaps

We’ve pulled up to homes in Wynnum and Ipswich where you could see daylight through the seal from the driveway. Typically, worn weatherstripping creates visible gaps along the edges of your garage door, and once those gaps appear, thieves have something to work with.

A flathead screwdriver or pry bar is all it takes here to pop the door open from there.

Exposed Emergency Release Cords

It only takes a coat hanger and five seconds. The emergency release cord on most automatic garage doors hangs just behind the top panel, which makes it an easy target. Burglars bend a wire hook, slide it through the gap at the top of the door, and pull the cord to disengage the lock.

Once that happens, the door lifts open by hand without triggering any alarms.

Thin or Damaged Panels

Older garage doors often use thin aluminium or timber panels that can’t handle much force. Because of this, a single kick in the right spot can bend the panel enough for someone to reach inside and trip the release (we’ve seen panels buckle from a single kick).

Damaged sections are even easier to exploit, especially when cracks or dents have already weakened the structure.

Now, let’s look at what actually stops burglars from getting in.

How Modern Garage Doors and Smart Locks Block Break-Ins

The biggest advantage of modern garage doors is that they remove the exact weak points that intruders rely on. When your door has reinforced panels, encrypted signals, and smart lock integration, forced entry becomes a much harder job.

Let’s take a look at how modern systems compare to older setups:

Old Door Weakness	Modern Door Solution
Fixed remote codes that can be copied	Rolling code technology that changes the signal every use
Thin aluminium or timber panels	Reinforced steel panels with internal bracing
Manual locks only	Smart locks with remote access and real-time alerts

Most of the panel lift doors we fit these days in North Lakes and Chermside come with these security features as standard. Rolling code technology generates a new signal each time you use the remote, which means thieves can’t record and replay your code to gain access.

Combined with a smartphone app, you can also receive notifications whenever someone opens or closes the garage door. This kind of system gives you full control over your garage security, even when you’re not home.

Door Opener Features That Keep Your Valuables Safe

Ever driven halfway to work and wondered if you closed the garage door? A modern garage door opener removes that worry by adding security features you can actually control. These systems protect your garage and everything inside it, from your vehicles to your tools and stored valuables.

Here are the door opener features that make the most difference:

• Auto-lock Functions: These engage the deadbolt on your garage door automatically after it closes, so you never have to remember to lock up manually. Once that’s in place, intruders can’t simply lift the door open by force.
• Timer-to-close Settings: If you forget to shut the garage door on your way out, the system closes it for you after a set period. This keeps your garage secure during those rushed school drop-offs or early morning commutes when you’re not thinking about security.
• Smartphone Connectivity: Frankly, this feature alone makes the upgrade worth it. Your phone receives notifications whenever the garage door opens or closes, and you can check the door status or lock it remotely from anywhere.

With these door opener features working together, your garage doors stay secure, and your valuables stay protected even when life gets hectic.

Adding Security Cameras and Home Security Systems to Your Garage

A security camera at your garage entrance does more than record footage. It actually changes how burglars view your property before they even approach. Because when intruders see cameras covering the garage door and driveway, most will move on to an easier target rather than risk being identified.

Start by positioning your outdoor camera to capture faces and number plates clearly, and make sure the angle covers all entry points around the garage, including windows and side doors.

Once your cameras are in place, the next step is connecting your garage to a larger home security system.

When your garage door sensors, entry sensors on windows, and security cameras all work within the same security system, you get a unified setup that responds the moment something goes wrong.

Professional monitoring builds on this protection by watching your security system around the clock. These services can dispatch help even when you’re away or unable to respond yourself (a risk few households can afford to take).

For complete garage security, pairing your garage doors with high-quality security cameras, entry sensors, and a monitored home security system gives you the best protection for your garage door and everything inside.

Simple Garage Security Upgrades You Can Do This Weekend

Now that you know what burglars look for, here are a few garage security upgrades you can handle yourself without calling in a professional.

• Install a deadbolt on the internal door: The door between your garage and house needs its own lock, separate from your garage door system. A solid deadbolt on this entry point stops intruders from walking straight into your home once they get past the garage door.
• Secure the emergency release cord: This fix takes two minutes and costs almost nothing. Thread a zip tie through the release lever to stop thieves from fishing the cord through the top of your garage door. We’ve used this method on dozens of garage doors across Brisbane, and it works every time.
• Add motion-activated lights: Burglars avoid well-lit properties because lights draw attention. Install motion-activated lights near your garage door, driveway, and any windows facing the street. This simple upgrade makes your garage a much harder target.

These garage door security upgrades won’t drain your bank account, but they will make your garage doors significantly harder to break into.

The Best Home Security Systems Start at Your Garage Door

Your garage door is one of the most overlooked entry points in home security, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. A secure garage door protects your home, your vehicles, and everything you store inside. When you combine modern garage doors with smart locks, security cameras, and a solid home security system, you close the gaps that burglars rely on.

Control Room has spent over a decade installing panel lift garage doors across Brisbane suburbs like Wynnum, Ipswich, North Lakes, and Chermside. Every garage door system we install is built to resist forced entry and keep your property secure.

If your current garage door has weak points, get in touch with our team to organise an inspection or upgrade.