Shed security

Ghost Rider

Folks,

I'm moving to a new house where I'll be keeping my three bikes in a shed out back. Now unfortunately the garden backs onto a lane that's accessible to the public, so I reckon I'm going to have to think long and hard about security.

I'll definitely be getting a padlock for the shed but it's made of wood so someone who really wanted to could easily just break the door down. Does anyone use an alarm on their shed? If so, which one and how good is it?

If anyone has any other suggestions as to how to deter or make things difficult for would-be shed-raiders, I'd be grateful.

Cheers.

Danbo!

I'm not sure how relevant it is for your situation, but my shed is linked to the house alarm. Its not your average barna shed, but a block shed with upvc windows etc, like a small extension not connected to the house. AFAIK you can get any shed connected back to the house alarm, but if its a small unstable shed then the wind could constantly be setting the alarm off.

If the above doesn't work, you could try an alarmed padlock? not sure if it would deter the intruder, but it could be better than nothing/standard padlock.

Caroline_ie

Gavin

I like going nuts on this sort of crap. Well, I'd like to go nuts, but I've no money so I just dream. Anyway.

If you have power to the shed, it makes things easier.

You could install a wireless camera


or a very simple alarm that sounds whenever the door is opened.


or a complete alarm system !!


These are all available at dealextreme, cheap cheap. The last one gets great reviews.

On a more physical level, the most effective lock would be an electronically activated deadbolt on the far side of the door that spanned the entire door. One that would actually prevent the door being easily knocked down. I think you'd need to make one of these yourself though, haven't seen any for sale.

Ciaran500

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/locks/product/shackle-9445
+
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/locks/product/new-york-fahgettaboudit-chain-16522

Caroline_ie

What about something like this too: an alarm lock ...

Actually this one doesn't seem to be available ... there are a few more online though.

Ciaran500

Caroline_ie wrote: »

What about something like this too: an alarm lock ...

Cable locks are worthless, they can be defeated with a cheap, small bolt cutters.

irishmotorist

One thing to bear in mind if it's a standard wooden shed is that I think the boyos don't usually bother breaking the locks. They'll often just unscrew the bolt or the bolt receiver (???) off and just swing the shed door open.

The only alternative that i can think of is to put on an internally mounted lock - such as the front door of a house might have.

I suppose, it all depends on your shed though.

Ghost Rider

That's a good point. There's no point in spending much money on a padlock, so.

irishmotorist wrote: »

One thing to bear in mind if it's a standard wooden shed is that I think the boyos don't usually bother breaking the locks. They'll often just unscrew the bolt or the bolt receiver (???) off and just swing the shed door open.

The only alternative that i can think of is to put on an internally mounted lock - such as the front door of a house might have.

I suppose, it all depends on your shed though.

Caroline_ie

Ciaran500 wrote: »

Cable locks are worthless, they can be defeated with a cheap, small bolt cutters.

Ah yes we all know that. But I think the 'alarmed' thingy is interresting. As said before: I use 3 diferent locks of 2 kinds when I cycle to work with my commuter and park the bike outside security office under gards + cameras ...

psycholist

Ghost Rider wrote: »

Folks,

I'm moving to a new house where I'll be keeping my three bikes in a shed out back. Now unfortunately the garden backs onto a lane that's accessible to the public, so I reckon I'm going to have to think long and hard about security.

I'll definitely be getting a padlock for the shed but it's made of wood so someone who really wanted to could easily just break the door down. Does anyone use an alarm on their shed? If so, which one and how good is it?

If anyone has any other suggestions as to how to deter or make things difficult for would-be shed-raiders, I'd be grateful.

Cheers.

id get lots of chain... and chain it to something heavy...a gas cylinder or something big and metal ...
ive mine chained to a metal bar cemented into the ground in an alarmed cinderblock shed

Ghost Rider

Yeah, a gas cylinder is a good idea. I was wondering what I could use as a weight...

Cheers for all the suggestions, folks.

psycholist wrote: »

id get lots of chain... and chain it to something heavy...a gas cylinder or something big and metal ...
ive mine chained to a metal bar cemented into the ground in an alarmed cinderblock shed

FrankGrimes

I have a similar situation so I bought a shed alarm in B&Q for €35. It runs of batteries so needs to be looked at regularly but it has both a contact and a PIR and the shrill off the siren is very high pitched so it would be likely to be heard and would p1ss off the thief at least until they pull it down.

I didn't want to make it obvious there was an alarm on the shed as it would attract attention so you can't see it from the outside. I also block the window up but do it by making it look like its a few sheets of timber laying up against that wall instead of making it look like a conscious effort to hide the view into the shed. Hopefully that makes them think there's not much in there.

TinyExplosions

Maybe a specific bike shed -sturdy and a little expensive, but worth it for your pride and joy

Redjeep!

To prevent somebody from unscrewing the hinges you can replace the screws with dome headed bolts that can only be undone from the inside. Put at least two nuts on each one to act as a locknut .

I reinforced the inside of my shed's double doors with few pieces of 4x2 timber that run the full length and width of the doors so they don't move if somebody tries to pull them, but will probably replace it with some steel strip fairly soon.

I'd say that the best defence is a combination of preventing anybody seeing what's inside, making the door as difficult as possible to open by strengthening it and using a good quailty padlock and hasp and chaining the bikes down to something solid.
You can buy shed anchors which are meant to provide a solid surface to lock something to, but I've never tried one.

The flip side is that you don't want to attract attention either as you'll never be able to make it completely thief proof, so discrete security is probably the way to go.

Ghost Rider

Some very good tips there - cheers.

Redjeep! wrote: »

To prevent somebody from unscrewing the hinges you can replace the screws with dome headed bolts that can only be undone from the inside. Put at least two nuts on each one to act as a locknut .

I reinforced the inside of my shed's double doors with few pieces of 4x2 timber that run the full length and width of the doors so they don't move if somebody tries to pull them, but will probably replace it with some steel strip fairly soon.

I'd say that the best defence is a combination of preventing anybody seeing what's inside, making the door as difficult as possible to open by strengthening it and using a good quailty padlock and hasp and chaining the bikes down to something solid.
You can buy shed anchors which are meant to provide a solid surface to lock something to, but I've never tried one.

The flip side is that you don't want to attract attention either as you'll never be able to make it completely thief proof, so discrete security is probably the way to go.

niceonetom

is the shed on a concrete foundation? i'd be looking for a way to secure the bikes to an anchor point like that rather than to the wooden frame of the shed itself.

Ghost Rider

I'm not too sure. I'm moving in on Saturday so I'll be able to findo out then. But yeah - having something to anchor the bike to seems crucial. (Not making it obvious what's in the shed will help too.)

niceonetom wrote: »

is the shed on a concrete foundation? i'd be looking for a way to secure the bikes to an anchor point like that rather than to the wooden frame of the shed itself.

roadmanmad

Two suggestions - both a bit messy.

Option A

Move the shed assuming timber built and bury a two large cavity blocks into the ground with the heaviest duty chain at least 5m of length you can purshase. make hole in base of shed and replace shed and run chains up through hole. Cover chains with mountain bike tubing to protect contact with bike. Secure chains to both sides of shed. Lock bikes to with with chain from either side of the shed. Refit door with bolts holding the door. Nuts tighened on inside only - dome heads on the outside. Place new big lock on door that needs a big key that would require a crow bar.

This option will last up to 1 minute when someone uses a chain cutters. You are hoping that they will loose interest at the door or when they see the chain.

Option B

Purchase GPS tracking and fit inside downtube.

This may not guarantee that someone is checking for one once stolen.

Redjeep!

Something I was planning to do in my shed, but never got around to it as I just chain my bike to my ride-on lawnmower. As people have pointed out this may be a bigger problem if somebody wants to nick the lawnmower rather than the bike.

Anyway, you can buy large screws with eye heads to them. If you screw two of them into one of the floor joists - as close as possible to each other, so that they're practically touching - then you should be able to put one padlock through them both and then run the chain to that.

As there's two of them , you can't unscrew them without undoing the padlock and so somebody would need to cut the chain or saw a large hole out of the floor. The floor joists are probably the strongest parts of any small shed and you've got to hope that any opportunist thief really wouldn't be that bothered. Put them somewhere we're they're difficult to access would make it harder as well (but make it more of a pain for you as well).

Sorry, am I coming across as a bit of an anorak on this???....

Chris Peak

Redjeep! wrote: »

To prevent somebody from unscrewing the hinges you can replace the screws with dome headed bolts that can only be undone from the inside. Put at least two nuts on each one to act as a locknut .

I reinforced the inside of my shed's double doors with few pieces of 4x2 timber that run the full length and width of the doors so they don't move if somebody tries to pull them, but will probably replace it with some steel strip fairly soon.

I'd say that the best defence is a combination of preventing anybody seeing what's inside, making the door as difficult as possible to open by strengthening it and using a good quailty padlock and hasp and chaining the bikes down to something solid.
You can buy shed anchors which are meant to provide a solid surface to lock something to, but I've never tried one.

The flip side is that you don't want to attract attention either as you'll never be able to make it completely thief proof, so discrete security is probably the way to go.

Some great advice there. I also have the better bike buried deeper in the shed with a manky looking blanket thrown over it, and my day runner closest to the front.
I have a motion sensor light that lights up the whole garden when something (usually a cat..) walks in front of the shed. You can fix these up to a bell to warn you something is going on. I wouldn't bother fitting it to the house alarm, it makes too much of a racket!

Also, paint the top of your garden walls with anti burglar paint like this.
http://www.international-paints.co.uk/details.php?productid=114&problemarea=1&surfaceid=23
It never 'goes off', so it ruins the little sh#ts clothes and is a bugger to get a grip with.
You should find it in B&Q.

Ghost Rider

I like it!

Chris Peak wrote: »

Also, paint the top of your garden walls with anti burglar paint like this.
http://www.international-paints.co.uk/details.php?productid=114&problemarea=1&surfaceid=23
It never 'goes off', so it ruins the little sh#ts clothes and is a bugger to get a grip with.
You should find it in B&Q.

Diarmuid

Digging up an old thread for some advice on securing a shed.

Anyone have an experience of securing their shed with this? They sell a full package of 16mm chain + the shed shackle + lock. It's expensive but not as expensive as a couple of bikes.

victorcarrera

My advice would be to make it as difficult as possible for them using a layered approach.
Remember that thieves like to work fast and pick the easiest targets based on risk and potential gain.
They dont like carrying tools as this is and offence if they are stopped and searched so don't leave any tools or garden implements that might be used as a lever.
Install PIR security lighting from house that covers shed area.
Put a dummy bell box on side of shed.
Extend house alarm to shed and install PIR + door contact. Don't bother putting the cable underground as the tamper alarm activates if the wire is cut.
Put a hole in the door and shed that will allow you to put a good motorcycle lock on it.
Lock the bikes together and to something heavy with cable or chain.
Never use a padlock. Only shackle locks (expensive new).
Put bikes in house if you are going to be away for any length of time.
Consider putting your race bikes in the attic during the off season.
Check that your house insurance covers shed contents and exceeds individual value of each bike.

Zorba

Or u could just put a large dog in the shed at night time

Redjeep!

Since this was posted the last time, I've cast a concrete beam with three holes through it to chain my bike to as an anchor.

I made each hole with a short length of the red high tension conduit tubing meant for putting electricity cables through underground. The beam weights a couple of hundred kilo's and then I've got a thick motorbike security chain and lock to lock the bike to the beam.

I didn't want to use one of the steel anchors, but reckon they'd work as well.

brayblue24

I keep mine in an unalarmed barna shed but I have a Krytpon lock tying it around a tool shelf anf another one around the plinth on the wall it's secured to. I also paid a few bob extra on the house insurance for piece of mind.

peterk19

I keep my bikes double u locked to a ladder and my Carbon fibre bike chained and u locked to a solid steel anchor bolted to the concrete floor so nothing is going to move that without making a lot of noise, then i put cable locks through the wheels

all kept in a concrete garage with steel doors and walls about 10 foot around the back garden and back lane has large Steel gates

then in the back garden i have a Staffordshire bull terrier and 2 jack russels

Lumen

peterk19 wrote: »

I keep my bikes double u locked to a ladder and my Carbon fibre bike chained and u locked to a solid steel anchor bolted to the concrete floor so nothing is going to move that without making a lot of noise, then i put cable locks through the wheels

all kept in a concrete garage with steel doors and walls about 10 foot around the back garden and back lane has large Steel gates

then in the back garden i have a Staffordshire bull terrier and 2 jack russels

That's all very impressive, but I'd be concerned about the lack of guard towers and a shark-filled moat.

peterk19

Lumen wrote: »

That's all very impressive, but I'd be concerned about the lack of guard towers and a shark-filled moat.

yea sadly i couldn't get planning permission for that but i haven't lost all hope

happy_73

Lumen wrote: »

That's all very impressive, but I'd be concerned about the lack of guard towers and a shark-filled moat.

frickin' sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their frickin' heads!