Code grabbers can be defeated

Question: We do not have an electric door opener on our overhead garage door. My husband says that they are not safe because a burglar could somehow use an electronic device and break in. Are there such devices, and if so, are electric garage door openers at risk?

Fourchalk: Your husband is referring to an electronic device referred to as a "code grabber". This device can intercept and capture the transmission frequency from your overhead garage door remote. Once captured, all a thief has to do is retransmit the stolen code to open your garage door. There is another variation of code grabbing called "code scanning". This is accomplished by using the same model transmitter (remote) and some very simple electronics to gain access to electric garage doors in minutes.

The good news is that most new garage door openers today are equipped with a "code encryptor" that generates millions of randomly rotating opening codes which makes it almost impossible for a thief to capture your code. So tell your husband to install an electric garage door opener with the "code encryptor" feature and enjoy another safe modern convenience.