The Cornelius Police Department urges residents to be mindful of open garage door break-ins. Many of us use our garages to store very expensive items, so we need to take precautions to avoid being easy targets for these criminals of opportunity who canvas our neighborhoods looking for open garages. The 15 seconds needed for a criminal to enter through the open door and remove valuables is a huge window of opportunity.? This very quick and easy to commit crime yields fantastic results for criminals who enter open garages during all times of day and night. Even when you’re working in the yard, secure the garage door. Criminals have also been known to use the lock bumping technique where the criminal drives through an area with a garage door opener and presses the button until the opener finds the shared frequency. This is an effective criminal tactic that can be defeated easily by using the slide lock function on your garage door when you’re not at home. If your garage is not equipped with a slide lock, you can purchase this low-cost item at a hardware store. Below are crime prevention tips that can improve the security of your home: Make sure the door from your garage into your house is as secure as your front door. Always lock the door from your garage into your house. Ensure that the door to your garage is in good condition. For effective garage door security, keep it closed and locked at all times. Do not leave your door opener in your vehicle. Remember, if you see something suspicious; report it immediately by dialing 911.