According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were more than two million theft incidents at domestic properties in 2025. This is actually an 11% fall on the year before, but while burglary is falling, a property’s door remains the most common entry point. With this in mind, the quality of your garage door and its locking mechanism matters, especially as garages are regularly used for storage in the UK.
Here at Rollerdor, we supply quality roller garage doors to customers nationwide, and in this article, we’ll take a closer look at the most valuable things that are typically found in garages and why having a robust roller garage door installed can help you protect these items.
The most valuable things found in garages
Some of the most commonly found items in garages that tend to be valuable include:
Cars
For many, the most valuable items found in garages are cars. Even a used car is worth an average of £17,556 according to market data. Beyond their pure financial value, they are important for everything from the school run to commuting to work, so the theft of a car is typically both expensive to replace and very disruptive to a household.
Bikes and E-Bikes
According to research from Aviva, bikes are the most stolen item from UK outbuildings, accounting for 24% of thefts and with an average replacement cost of £2,056. The location matters too, as the most common place for bicycle theft is inside a shed or garage, accounting for 28% of incidents.
Gardening equipment
Garages often house gardening tools and equipment such as lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, pressure washers and more. Aviva puts this as the second most stolen outbuilding item at 20%, with replacement costs reaching up to £1,299.
Tools
Insurer Aviva also discovered that power tools accounted for 16% of thefts in outbuildings, including garages.
From basic DIY kits to professional power tools, garages often double as workshops and tools are frequently kept inside them. The value of such equipment can quickly add up, with replacement costs reaching up to £2,038.
Appliances
Many garages contain expensive appliances like fridges and freezers. They’re rarely insured at replacement value, so if damaged or stolen, can be costly to replace.
Furniture
Sometimes, furniture like sofas, tables and cabinets are kept in garages waiting to be sold or while rooms in the house are being decorated. These items can be expensive, so it is important that they are protected to ensure they remain in good condition.
Vintage toys
Old toys stored in your garage could be a hidden treasure that you don’t even know about. Vintage collectables, especially those in good condition and in their original packaging, can be worth far more than expected. In fact, an original 1979 Kenner rocket-firing Star Wars Boba Fett action figure is the most expensive action figure ever sold, going for more than £1,000,000 at an auction in 2024.
This is also the case with early editions of popular books. An original hardback of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was sold for more than £200,000 at an auction in 2024, with the all-time record for a first edition standing at more than £400,000.
Antiques
According to the ONS, 40% of British households contain antiques or vintage items. Garages are common storage spaces for these items, from inherited family heirlooms to decorative objects. Often, these pieces can be extremely expensive and irreplaceable due to their sentimental value. They’re also vulnerable to damage or theft if a garage is not secure.
How to keep my garage secure
With the potential for so much value in your garage, it is important that it is kept as secure as possible to prevent theft and damage from the elements. Some practical steps you can take include:
- Choose integrated locking over surface-mounted padlocks – This is better than a standard padlock that is only as strong as the bracket.
- Check for gaps around the door’s edges – Gaps are a security weakness and a source of heat loss.
- Keep valuables out of sight – It might seem obvious, but opting for frosted or covered windows stops people seeing your valuables and coming back later to steal them.
- Inspect locks and mechanisms regularly – This helps address signs of wear and tear and is especially important after winter.
- Consider CCTV – Aviva highlights CCTV cameras and motion-activated lighting as visual deterrents that can put off opportunist thieves.
- Replace damaged or old doors – Many traditional up-and-over garage doors with a single, worn lock are easy targets for thieves. Modern roller doors with multi-point locking systems are much harder to penetrate.
- Secure the internal door – If you have a door between your garage and house, it is important that it is secure as it is a direct route into your wider home if the garage is breached.
- Check your insurance policy – Insurance for garages and other outbuildings is sometimes capped according to Aviva, so having a secure door can sometimes be the difference between a valid claim and a rejected one.
The single best thing you can do to protect your property is having a robust and secure garage door installed. At Rollerdor, we supply high-quality roller garage doors to customers nationwide that can keep your garage and its valuables safe and secure. All our products are made from the finest materials, ensuring durability and great weather protection. For your peace of mind, all products are UKCA marked and come with a minimum two-year warranty.
To find out more or to get a free quote for the work, contact our team today.
