Suggestions to further secure garage

Aqara Products
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1

Hey there.
I recently had my garage broken into. I actually happened to catch them in the act, so only minimal items stolen. They didn’t get my beloved motorbike.
However this seemingly didn’t deter them. A month later, the same group attempted to break into my garage again, this time with an upgraded garage door, they couldn’t get in, but I feel like this is now a challenge for them.

I invested in the Aqara security kit. So Hub Cam, Door sensor, motion sensor & vibration sensor.
I already had the M3 Hub, as this controls my lights indoors too.

Generally speaking, I do love the kit.
Im just not entirely sure its providing what I need. So hoping with the help of others inspiration, and maybe an additional products, I can go next level.

Point to note, my garage is part of a block of 3 (mine is middle) at the very end of my rear garden.
So the Hub Cam & Motion sensor is in the garage itself and pointing towards the main door (only entry point).
The door sensor is naturally on the door and detects when garage door is open.
Finally the vibration sensor is placed on the door itself. And personally I feel is the best thing for initial alert that someone is trying to get in. As this will go off if someone just leans on the door.
The system is permanently alarmed, unless I need to access the garage

One of the main issues I have though, is that vibration sensor. Because my garage is in the middle of 2 others, my alarm sounds whenever they close their garage doors. Even with the vib sensor set to the lowest.
Annoyingly, this in my opinion is the only item that actually deters a potential theft, the rest only really come into play when the damage is already done and they are in the garage.

Any thoughts or possible solutions aside from Moving house?

2

@Streethawk It sounds like you’ve taken some solid steps to secure your garage, especially considering the repeated attempts to break in. The Aqara security kit is a great choice, and it’s understandable that you want to optimize it further. Let’s focus on the vibration sensor, which you’ve identified as both crucial and problematic due to its sensitivity.

From the reference information, it seems that the variability in how the Vibration Sensor is triggered can depend on the materials and structures around it. Since your garage is in the middle of two others, the shared walls might be contributing to those false alarms. Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Sensitivity Adjustment: You’ve mentioned that the vibration sensor is already set to the lowest sensitivity. It might be worth experimenting with the placement of the sensor on the door to see if a different spot might reduce false alarms from neighboring garages.

  2. Consider an Additional Sensor: Sometimes layering your security can help mitigate false alarms. Another option might be to add a secondary sensor like a contact sensor at a different part of the door or even inside, which might help verify if a real intrusion is occurring.

  3. Automation Adjustments: Utilize the Aqara Home App to create specific automations. For example, you could program the system to only send alerts if both the vibration and motion sensors are triggered within a certain timeframe.

  4. Community Feedback: Engaging with other users who have faced similar issues might provide additional insights. Sometimes, the collective experience can lead to creative solutions.

I hope these suggestions help! Feel free to share your experiences and any adjustments you make, as this can be beneficial to others in the community facing similar challenges.