[zx10guy]

Not sure if putting this here in General Automotive is better than in Off Topic. But wanted to post that if you haven't removed the emergency pull string from your garage door opener, you should do so now unless you really need to have that function. A while ago, I saw a video of how easy it is for crooks to grab that string from outside of the garage to release the garage door mechanism allowing the garage door to be opened from the outside. Because of this video, I have taken off the pull string from my garage door opener.

Well, today on the S1000RR forum, a member posted he just fell victim to this where the crooks stole two of his bikes worth around $80,000. Here's the video he has from his Nest camera showing the dirtbags entering his garage and stealing the bikes.

[omasou]

Unless the garage door made of tin foil accessing the cord from outside by prying the door is very difficult and the pull string wasn't used to access the garage. I've seen a few of those videos and tried to budge my door, nada. Ask the garage door guy too and he said it's doable but will destroy the top panel on thicker doors like mine.

I keep the steering columns locked on my bikes, which would make moving the bike w/o lifting it or the front wheel very, very hard. Surprised the M1000RR wasn't locked unless the "thief" was getting the key in the beginning of the video.

Guess he should have installed the alarm. Oh right, the folks on that form think they are useless and too much weight.

To me that video looks suspect. Someone knew what was in that garage and which bikes to take.

[zx10guy]

The method isn't dependent on prying on the garage door panel. It's to take advantage of any gaps between the door and the frame of the house. I checked mine and it's pretty tight but that's after having a contractor do work on the weather stripping and frame of the garage door opening due to aging shotty builder construction. Prior to the work being done, I could see day light around the edges of the door. I have to inspect the weather stripping around the garage door at my vacation home to see if that one has any gap problems.

In regards to the theft and how he described where his house is located, I fully believe this was a targeted attack from someone he knows.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

But wanted to post that if you haven't removed the emergency pull string from your garage door opener, you should do so now unless you really need to have that function. A while ago, I saw a video of how easy it is for crooks to grab that string from outside of the garage to release the garage door mechanism allowing the garage door to be opened from the outside. Because of this video, I have taken off the pull string from my garage door opener.

Click-bait.
There are dozens of ways to get into a garage, especially when thieves know what is inside and wants it. People in my area get cars stolen by leaving theirs unlocked. Thieves get in, hit garage opener door, walk inside to take the keys, drive off. Onto a highway, into a shiping container (no reception), gone. All the time.

There is only one way to open the garage when the power go out, in the dark. It's the emergency pull string. It stays.


IMHO,
a

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Click-bait.
There are dozens of ways to get into a garage, especially when thieves know what is inside and wants it. People in my area get cars stolen by leaving theirs unlocked. Thieves get in, hit garage opener door, walk inside to take the keys, drive off. Onto a highway, into a shiping container (no reception), gone. All the time.

There is only one way to open the garage when the power go out, in the dark. It's the emergency pull string. It stays.


IMHO,
a

Click bait is when there's some motivation to get some social media clout. This isn't it. The guy that posted the video and thread on the RR forum has been a long time member there. The only motivation would be do commit insurance fraud for some reason. This is one hell of a way to go about doing it making it all public.

We can go on and on about how many ways there are to get into a garage, house, car, etc, etc. This one simple thing is easy to do that removes one option. If the power goes out, you're still fumbling in the dark in the garage to pull the string. So if you don't have a flashlight, you're pretty screwed unless you have windows into your garage with enough outside ambient light to see. And yes, if someone wants something bad enough they're going to get it. I'm not going to make it easy on them to do it.

In addition to removing the pull string, my garage doors are tied to my home security system with central monitoring. I also have a Chamberlain MyQ that will notify me when my garage door is opened or closed. And in my situation, not having power to run my garage door opener isn't an issue with my backup generator.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by afadeev

...
There is only one way to open the garage when the power go out, in the dark. It's the emergency pull string. It stays.
...

I've had to use the emergency release on my garage door I think three times this year. Once we had a pop up storm that knocked out power, but my doors were open - had to pull it to release so I could slam the doors closed before flooding out the garage (sideways rain). Another time was power related to situate my generator (a few days without power). And the last time was due to an opener communication issue that had me locked inside the garage (I locked the house door on my way out to the garage)

I think there's a genuine need for the pull string. A good alternate would to have a lock pin on the track itself locking the door to the track but still retaining the pull string. My dad has a side loader for his shop that this pin is tied into the door motor that will automatically release the pin if the motor is instructed to open the door (avoiding any mistakes damaging the door/track).

[unluky]

I remove them anyway so they don't drag on my taller cars. I have a metal rod I bent to fit in the hole with a handle I keep hanging right by the door and I can just grab it and pop it in and pull it down easy as pie.

But I live so far out - no one messes with my garage and if they do they are on 3 cameras before they even reach it.

[omasou]

I find it strange that...

1. He didn't have the camera set to notify him
2. He didn't have a camera monitoring outside of the garage.

[Tejas1836]

I am notified every time when my door opens and closes.

[omasou]

There is also a lot of solutions out there from simple to over the top.

I have the first one but the problem is if you forget to throw it open before trying to opening the door w/the remote.

https://www.amazon.com/SureLock-Gara.../dp/B07PR81DSN

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/...onghold-anchor

UK must have a serious bike theft issue to create something like this...

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocia...struction-test

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by omasou

There is also a lot of solutions out there from simple to over the top.

I have the first one but the problem is if you forget to throw it open before trying to opening the door w/the remote.

When I replaced the garage door in a previous house the installer put that lock on and added an extra screw to prevent it from being used. He explained that they get calls all the time from folks that locked the door and then used the opener and if that extra screw is not in there they don't warranty the damage.

When leaving on long vacations I put a padlock on the tracks like your second photo and disconnect the power to the opener for just that reason. Can't imagine using these things in the day to day (unless the door between the garage and house is at the front of the garage next to the garage door).

[omasou]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

When I replaced the garage door in a previous house the installer put that lock on and added an extra screw to prevent it from being used. He explained that they get calls all the time from folks that locked the door and then used the opener and if that extra screw is not in there they don't warranty the damage.

When leaving on long vacations I put a padlock on the tracks like your second photo and disconnect the power to the opener for just that reason. Can't imagine using these things in the day to day (unless the door between the garage and house is at the front of the garage next to the garage door).

My installer did the same. I have to purposely remove the bolt and nut to use the lock.

I too only use it on vacation. I throw the bolts and also throw the breaker for the garage door openers.

[BlkGS]

I wrapped my release cable around the rod. It's not co.ing off unless I take it off

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by omasou

I find it strange that...

1. He didn't have the camera set to notify him
2. He didn't have a camera monitoring outside of the garage.

I also find it strange his Nest system wasn't set up to notify him. But maybe he was distracted that he didn't see the notification in time.

He did say he has a camera outside that showed them parking the getaway vehicle further down the driveway and that they pushed the bikes to the vehicle.

[zx10guy]

Forgot to mention, both garage doors at both of my homes have a built in key lock cylinder that I can unlock the garage doors from the outside. There's a T handle outside that when I twist the handle, it engages the metal bars into the metal tracks on both sides. I use this when I'm going to be a way for a while in addition to the other things I've done in my reply above.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

For me, you have insurance at worst. If a thief wants to do a heist and break into your place no matter what it will happen. Unless you are actively being broken in every month by just like petty theft maybe... but I'll pass.

[Portimao Blue M440ix]

Not that I have done it but after reading the thread its probably possible to remove the string and make a stick/pole with a hook on it that fits in the hole the string ties too to release the latch.

[omasou]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Forgot to mention, both garage doors at both of my homes have a built in key lock cylinder that I can unlock the garage doors from the outside. There's a T handle outside that when I twist the handle, it engages the metal bars into the metal tracks on both sides. I use this when I'm going to be a way for a while in addition to the other things I've done in my reply above.

My builder had those on my doors. I replace those panels and removed them to help increase security.

[mike_va]

I added these large magnetic door sensors to our alarm system.

My thought is that I probably won't keep anyone out who wants in. I do want the alarm to go off.

Plus, it made it easy to tie into our automation for alerts if left open at night and we don't have to worry about locking the inside garage door. This has worked reliably for 15+ years.

https://www.aesecurity.com/10ovgadomaco.html

Note: we also recently got a meross, for remote control via our iphones. I have not wired it in yet.

[gonzo]

Get Sedan Clan to view vid. Cop and biker.
They passed two bikes in front uncovered. Not crack heads. They were after specifics.

* Dog that barks if a grasshopper hits the window.
* Glock G20.

[Hit_Apex]

Removing altogether is a safety issue. For decades I have put a small zip tie over the lever that will break if yanked hard but would be very difficult from a distance.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by gonzo

Get Sedan Clan to view vid. Cop and biker.
They passed two bikes in front uncovered. Not crack heads. They were after specifics.

* Dog that barks if a grasshopper hits the window.
* Glock G20.

Acute cases of lead poisoning solve these issues quickly and effectively for everyone else.