Electric gates are a great security addition you can make to your property. They have a range of security benefits, particularly when teamed with other security devices and precautions, and they play a key role in creating a comprehensive security system for your home or commercial premises. Even used on their own without any other security measures, gates can considerably increase the security at your property. No security measure is entirely fool-proof and completely guaranteed to keep intruders at bay, but electric gates do have a number of advantages.
Let’s take a look at some of the security aspects of electric gates.
A physical barrier
Although we may have a fear of organised criminals who operate efficiently and ruthlessly to get their hands on our belongings, the reality is perhaps not quite as threatening. Most burglaries are undertaken by opportunistic thieves. They will always take the easiest option. This means that if you secure your property, never leave doors or windows unlocked and make it more difficult for intruders to gain access to your property, you’re much less likely to be burgled.
Driveways with gates are more problematic for thieves than ones that allow them to wander onto your property unhindered. Even non-automated gates that are left unlocked can be a mild deterrent to opportunists. The size of automated gates usually means that they’re difficult to scale. They can’t be stepped over or easily climbed and they present a considerable physical barrier to access. In most cases, this will be enough to deter your average burglar from attempting to enter your property. If they do attempt to scale gates, there’s more chance of them being spotted before they’re successful. Tall, automated gates make life more challenging for would-be burglars.
Automatic locking
If you have a lock installed, your electric gates will lock automatically after they have been closed. This means that you won’t have to get out of your car to lock them when you leave the house, and you won’t forget to lock them when you get home. Automatic locking means that the gates cannot easily be forced open, increasing your home security further. There are a range of locking systems available and your gate provider and installer will be able to advise you on which might be the most suitable.
Electric gates cannot be forced open easily
It’s not easy to force open electric gates. Swing and sliding gates are difficult to move when connected to their motors. Swing gates can be pushed from where they open using maximum leverage to break the motor gearing, arms or connections to the gate or pillar. Sliding gates must be pushed far enough along their track to allow access.
Even then, there’s a good chance the car might come off worse. This represents a considerable challenge to even the most determined burglar, and if you live in a residential area, it would easily be spotted.
In reality, few burglars are going to be so committed to stealing from you that they would take such risks. In all likelihood, after a quick attempt at forcing the gates, your average opportunistic thief will move on to easier pickings.
What if you need extra security?
For the overwhelming majority of homeowners, electric gates will be sufficient security to keep opportunistic intruders out of your property. If you live in an isolated area or in a high value home that you feel may be targeted by burglars, then you may feel that you need extra security measures. As well as burglar alarms and CCTV, rising bollards or other kinds of removable obstructions can be installed. All of these further reduces the risk of a forced entry.
It’s worth remembering, however, that no security measure is entirely fool-proof. Electric gates can reduce the chance of being burgled but cannot eliminate it entirely. To do that might require living behind security measures that most people would find intolerable in a domestic setting. It’s always a trade-off between security, convenience, and peace of mind.
Contact us today to find out more about the security benefits of electric gates.