Garden Shed Securitysubmitted on 16 April 2015
Many people underestimate the value of the items they store in their garden sheds. They frequently contain expensive tools and equipment, and possibly hobby-related items such as bikes and fishing tackle, especially when the property doesn't have a garage. Unfortunately criminals are fully aware of the value of goods that can be found in a garden shed, and are keen to take advantage.
Although a shed is not designed to withstand a determined attack, there are some simple measures you can take to make it more secure:-
1) Position your garden shed as near to your house as possible so that it is clearly visible from your home.
2) Keep your shed in good condition. Thieves have been known to lift off a flimsy roof to get at tools inside.
3) Ensure that the shed door is in good condition – thieves can kick in a rotting door panel.
4) Secure the shed door hinges with ‘clutch head’ or ‘coffin’ screws. These are a special type of screw that once fitted can only be unscrewed with a special tool. They can be purchased from DIY outlets and on the internet.
5) Fit two padlocks on the door: one about a third of the way down from the top, the other a similar distance from the bottom of the door. Use closed-shackle padlocks to make the shed door more secure, as they have very little of the metal hoop exposed, making them much less vulnerable to someone wielding a pair of bolt cutters.
6) If your shed has a window, try covering it on the inside with curtain, bubble wrap or anything that will make it harder for thieves to find out what’s inside. You can go one step further by fitting laminated glass in the window or security mesh on the outside.
7) If your shed window opens, consider screwing it shut.
8) Mark any equipment of value that you leave in your shed with your postcode – use a UV pen, paint the details on or scratch them onto metal handles. This will increase the chances of your belongings being recovered.
9) Make it harder for thieves to carry off equipment by fastening them together with heavy-duty chain and a padlock. A lawnmower chained to garden chairs and a heavy barbecue, for example, will be awkward to drag away and possibly noisy as well.
10) If your garden shed has a concrete base, you could install anchor bolts and chain valuable items to them.
11) Always put away tools, equipment and anything of any value when you aren’t using them. You may otherwise be supplying an opportunist burglar with the tools to break into your house.
Why not go outside now and see what you can do to make your shed more secure?
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