OPP warn of stolen garage door remote used in break and enter

The Frontenac Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are sharing a recent case as a cautionary story for those with garage door remotes.

On Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, that detachment of the OPP were called to an address in Battersea for a break and enter to a garage. The owner of the house had been away for the weekend and parked their vehicle at the car pool parking lot on Highway 15 in Kingston. While there, the vehicle was broken into and the automatic garage door opener remote was stolen.

The thief later used the remote to gain entry to the homeowner’s garage and a generator was stolen.

The OPP are reminding homeowners that it is best not to keep an automatic garage door opener remote in a vehicle, as most drivers have an insurance and vehicle ownership card in their vehicle, which states the owner’s home address. With an address and an automatic garage door opener remote, it is possible for thieves to enter the garage, and sometimes the home. This can occur when the car/homeowner has parked their vehicle for an extended period of time, or even when they are shopping or running errands.

The following are some precautions to consider suggested by the OPP:

• Carry your remote garage door opener in your purse or pocket.
• If the remote is stolen, disable your garage door opener and then reprogram other remotes by following manufacturer instructions. You will need to pull the emergency release cord to disconnect the door from the track.
• If you are unsure about reprogramming, unplug the garage door opener and manually open and close the door. If you do this, you will need to reengage the original lock on the garage door handle, or install a new lock.
• Contact the manufacturer of your garage door opener for help with the remote(s).